Joao Felix transfer news: Al Nassr close to £44m deal for Chelsea forward which would accelerate Xavi Simons deal

Al-Nassr are close to agreeing a deal worth around £44m to sign Joao Felix from Chelsea.

Felix’s former club Benfica were previously in talks to re-sign the 25-year-old Portuguese international.

However, Al-Nassr have now made their move for Felix as they go all out to try and win the Saudi Pro League, having extended Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract and also appointed experienced Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus as their new head coach.

Selling Felix will allow Chelsea to accelerate their move for RB Leipzig attacker Xavi Simons, as further new signings this summer are dependent on exits.

Felix rejoined Chelsea permanently last summer from Atletico Madrid for a fee in the region of £45m. He had a previous half-season loan spell at Stamford Bridge in 2023.

Despite failing to establish himself in either of those two stints, Chelsea are now set to recoup what they spent to permanently sign Felix.

They also banked a £5m fee following Felix’s loan move to AC Milan, where he scored three goals across 19 appearances, in February.