Chelsea transfer news: Joao Felix 'hijack' at final stages as significant fee revealed

Saudi Pro League giants Al-Nassr are reportedly in advanced talks to hijack Benfica's proposed move for Chelsea outcast Joao Felix.

The Portugal international has failed to make the grade at Stamford Bridge since returning for a second spell last summer, having previously spent the second half of 2022-23 on loan in West London from Atletico Madrid.

Felix also struggled to impress during a short-lived stint at AC Milan last season, and Chelsea are looking to sever ties with the 25-year-old during the current window, even though his contract runs for another six years.

The attacker's former club Benfica were said to have been closing in on a deal to bring him back to the Estadio da Luz, six years on from selling him to Atletico for a mammoth £111.2m, but that is not the case any more.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr are now working to hijack Benfica's transfer and have sent a proposal of a permanent deal to Chelsea, as well as a contract offer to Felix's camp.

Al-Nassr 'close' to Benfica Felix transfer hijack as fee revealed

Romano adds that an agreement is already 'close' between all parties, and the last details should be resolved within the next 48 hours, as the move has now reached its final stages.

Felix has supposedly given the green light to a transfer, and according to additional information from Ben Jacobs, Chelsea stand to receive over £40m from the 25-year-old's sale.

The Blues will therefore only be making a small loss on the €52m (£45.5m) they paid for Felix's signature back in 2024, where the attacker arrived at Stamford Bridge to help facilitate Conor Gallagher's move to Atletico.

Felix managed seven goals in the first half of the 2024-25 season, but four of those efforts came in the Conference League, and he only started three Premier League matches before being loaned to Milan.

The Portugal international will depart Stamford Bridge with a total of 11 goals and two assists from 40 games for the Blues, and he will link up with the likes of Ronaldo, Sadio Mane and Aymeric Laporte at Al-Nassr.

Who else could Chelsea sell after Felix?

Banking over £40m for Felix is nothing short of a terrific piece of business for Chelsea, who will no doubt trim their bloated attacking ranks further before the window slams shut on September 1.

Raheem Sterling is expected to be the next name on the chopping block - Fulham are thought to be plotting an ambitious move for the Englishman - while Christopher Nkunku, David Datro Fofana, Armando Broja and maybe even Nicolas Jackson could head for the exit door too.

Some of the proceeds will go towards helping Chelsea complete a deal for Xavi Simons, as the Conference League winners are now said to be in advanced talks to sign the RB Leipzig playmaker.

Further back, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Lesley Ugochukwu and Carney Chukwuemeka should be allowed to go permanently, while a new stomping ground is also being sought for centre-back Axel Disasi.