Al-Nassr has reached an agreement to pay Chelsea forward Joao Felix up to £43.7 million. In order to finish the move, the 25-year-old has been granted permission to fly to Riyadh for his medical. After his previous club, Benfica, expressed interest in him, Felix will join fellow Portugal international Cristiano Ronaldo at the Saudi Pro League team.
After sending the forward on loan to AC Milan for six months in January for a £5 million loan fee, Chelsea recovered the £45 million they paid Atletico Madrid for Felix last summer.
In order to balance the books this summer, the Blues, who won the Club World Cup this month, have already traded winger Noni Madueke and goalkeepers Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga.
With more players like forward Raheem Sterling, left-back Ben Chilwell, midfielder Renato Veiga, and striker Armando Broja now up for sale, they have raised about £130 million.
In addition to spending £212 million on players like forward Joao Pedro, winger Jamie Gittens, and striker Liam Delap, Chelsea is still interested in midfielder Xavi Simons and defender Jorrel Hato.
Al-Nassr offer 10 times salary to sign Joao Felix
Joao Felix is expected to sign with Al-Nassr after declining a possible return to Benfica. According to reports, the Saudi Arabian squad is paying the Portuguese striker a salary that is ten times greater than what his previous team put forward.
Al-Nassr will pay Chelsea €30 million (£25.3 million) in fixed fees plus €20 million (£16.9 million) in performance-related add-ons, according to writer Fabrizio Romano. Before the transaction is finalized, the player’s medical is the last step left.
Over the duration of a two-year contract, Felix will earn €70 million (£59 million), or €35 million (£29.5 million) every season, according to A Bola.
In contrast, the 25-year-old made €8 million (£6.7 million) a year at Chelsea, tax-free. He had allegedly agreed to a lower wage of €3 million (£2.5 million) each season, which was the club’s maximum pay ceiling, during discussions with Benfica before the arrival of Al-Nassr’s attractive offer.
Owned by the Public Investment Fund of the nation, the Saudi Pro League team has persisted in its policy of acquiring well-known European players in an effort to raise the league’s level of competition and international recognition.
