The Fall of Joao Felix: From Golden Boy to Forgotten Talent

Joao Felix’s upcoming transfer to Al-Nassr marks yet another twist in one of modern football’s most puzzling careers. Once hailed as Portugal’s next superstar, Felix is now heading to Saudi Arabia at just 25 years old—a far cry from the meteoric trajectory once expected of him.

The third most expensive transfer in history when Atletico Madrid paid £113m for his services in 2019, Felix’s journey through Europe’s elite clubs—Chelsea, Barcelona, AC Milan—has been anything but linear.

A Bright Start in Lisbon

Felix rose through Benfica’s youth ranks, making headlines in 2018-19 with 20 goals in 43 games, earning Young Player of the Year and the Golden Boy award. He dazzled with flair, vision, and creativity—“pure art” as Lisbon-based journalist Marcus Alves described it.

“Those six months of him playing at Estadio da Luz were the best I’ve witnessed in a decade.”

The Atletico Gamble

Joao Felix won La Liga with Atletico Madrid in 2020-21

Felix’s record-breaking move to Atletico Madrid was seen as a statement. But under Diego Simeone, his talent clashed with tactical discipline. Coaches grew frustrated with his inconsistency and defensive reluctance.

Despite winning La Liga in 2020-21, he was largely a peripheral figure, scoring just 35 goals in 131 appearances over three and a half seasons.

“It’s not that he’s not bothered,” says Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague. “But he’s not listening.”

A Cycle of Unfulfilled Loans

Joao Felix netted home and away against parent club Atletico Madrid in his season on loan at Barcelona

Felix sought reinvention through loans:

• Chelsea (2023): Sent off on debut, 4 goals in 20 games.

• Barcelona (2023–24): 10 goals, including two vs. Atletico, but still not enough.

• AC Milan (2025): Just 3 goals in 21 matches, remembered more for tunnel banter with Kyle Walker than performance.

Each stint began with promise and ended with indifference.

Strange Return to Chelsea

In a bizarre twist, Chelsea re-signed Felix permanently for £45m in 2024, only to loan him out again within six months. The deal appeared driven more by financial balancing than football logic.

Even though Felix scored 7 goals, including braces against Panathinaikos and Morecambe, he remained a peripheral figure in cup competitions.

The Saudi Switch & the End of a Dream

Chelsea played different teams in the league and cup in the first half of last season – with Felix featuring in the cup team (pictured scoring against FC Noah in the Europa Conference League)

After flirtations with a return to Benfica, Felix has opted for Al-Nassr, where he’ll reunite with Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Jorge Jesus.

“Back home, the feeling is that Felix has officially given up on being a top-level international player,” says Alves.

A Cautionary Tale

Joao Felix’s story is a lesson in modern football’s obsession with potential. From being compared to Ronaldo to being a transfer show footnote, the fall is as steep as it is tragic.

He’s not without accolades:

• Golden Boy winner (2019)

• La Liga champion (2021)

• Nations League winner (2019 & 2023)

Yet, as Balague notes:

“He doesn’t fit the modern game. He doesn’t want to adapt, and that takes you to a limit.”

Final Verdict: Waste or Warning?

Joao Felix (centre right) – pictured with Chelsea team-mates Renato Veiga and Pedro Neto – won his second Nations League trophy with Portugal this summer, although did not get on the pitch

Felix’s move to Saudi Arabia may not be the final nail, but it’s a far cry from the player who once shared headlines with Ronaldo.

“The best of Joao Felix might have already happened—and that’s the most frustrating part,” concludes Alves.