Chelsea are set to sanction Joao Felix’s transfer exit after the Portugal forward agreed a deal with Al Nassr.
Felix and Chelsea had been in advanced talks with Benfica but the 25-year-old has snubbed his boyhood club in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia.
By joining Al Nassr – in a deal worth around £44m – Felix will link up with his international teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi.
Felix is one of a number of players Chelsea have put up for sale this summer along with the likes of Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling and Nicolas Jackson.
The former Atletico Madrid star enjoyed a promising loan spell at Stamford Bridge during the 2022-23 season before Chelsea signed him on a permanent transfer last summer.
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Chelsea spent £45m to bring Felix back to west London but Enzo Maresca showed little faith in him in the first-half of the season before he was sent out on loan to AC Milan.
Felix hoped to revive his career in Serie A but continued to struggle, forcing AC Milan to change their plans and reject the chance to sign him permanently.
Despite his struggles, Felix still had admirers at Benfica and his boyhood club were in advanced talks to bring him back to the club.
But Fabrizio Romano says Al Nassr have quickly and successfully hijacked the move and are on the verge of agreeing a deal with Chelsea.
Felix has already given the green light to the transfer as he is keen to link up with Portugal legend Ronaldo and will be handed a lucrative contract.
The permanent transfer will block Liverpool forward Luis Diaz’s move to Saudi Arabia, though the Colombian could still be heading away from Anfield with Bayern Munich ready to make another transfer approach.
Diaz is keen to leave the Premier League champions and was in talks with Al Nassr before the Saudi giants settled on Felix.
After selling Felix, Chelsea will turn their attentions to other unwanted players including Nkunku, Sterling and Jackson.
Like Diaz, Nkunku has also been linked with Bayern Munich and Chelsea have slashed his asking price as they look to drum up interest in the French striker.
Sterling has been linked with a move to Chelsea’s west London rivals Fulham following his dismal loan spell at Arsenal.
Jackson, meanwhile, looks set to be sold after Chelsea brought in attacking players Joao Pedro and Liam Delap earlier in the summer.
Chelsea have already raised over £50m by selling England winger Noni Madueke to Arsenal, with Kepa Arrizabalaga also joining the Gunners for a much lower fee.
In terms of further incoming signings, Chelsea remain interested in Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho and Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.
Chelsea endured a worrying blip under Maresca last season but ended the campaign superbly, qualifying for the Champions League and winning the Conference League.
The Blues then defied expectations at the Club World Cup, winning the controversial tournament ahead of the likes of PSG and Real Madrid.
Chelsea have two pre-season friendlies – against Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan – before starting their 2025-26 Premier League campaign on August 17 against London rivals Crystal Palace.
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