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Fabrizio Romano says agent of Chelsea star has begun talks for transfer with player ‘keen’ on move

Josh Barker

Thu 24 July 2025 11:15, UK

Chelsea could sell a player back to his former club with talks over a move understood to be advancing.

Much of the transfer focus at Stamford Bridge this summer has been on new arrivals.

Chelsea have spent well and already completed permanent moves for multiple players.

• Jamie Gittens – Dortmund, £51.5m
• Joao Pedro – Brighton, £60m
• Liam Delap – Ipswich, £30m
• Estevao Willian – Palmeiras, £29.1m
• Dario Essugo – Sporting, £18.5m
• Mamadou Sarr – RC Strasbourg, undisclosed

However, while incomings have been the focus, there are now expected to be several players who secure exits.

It was reported last week that Chelsea’s main transfer focus after the Club World Cup is to move players on, and Fabrizio Romano has now shared an update on that front.

Joao Felix in talks to leave Chelsea

Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Joao Felix, Renato Veiga, Armando Broja, Lesley Ugochukwu and Axel Disasi were previously named among the players who could depart the club this summer.

And now, Fabrizio Romano has given an update on Felix’s plan to leave West London in the current window.

The 25-year-old spent time out on loan at AC Milan last season and could now secure a permanent exit to one of his former clubs.

It’s understood that Benfica are pushing to land the Chelsea player and super agent Jorge Mendes is in talks with the Portuguese club.

Romano adds that Felix is keen to make his return to Benfica and negotiations are expected to advance soon.

Joao Felix Chelsea stats

Felix arrived at Chelsea on an initial loan deal from Atletico Madrid in January 2023.

He then returned to the Premier League outfit in the summer of 2024, signing from Atletico for a fee of around £50m.

The 25-year-old got his senior break at Benfica and was previously eyed as one of the top young prospects in European football.

He scored 20 and assisted 11 with the Portuguese club, but Felix has struggled for regular game time at Chelsea.

Felix scored one and assisted one in 12 Premier League matches in the first half of 2024/25 before being loaned to Milan, where he netted three in 21.