Chelsea land Felix from Atletico Madrid on loan

Chelsea manager Graham Potter hailed new signing Joao Felix as a participant who ought to “make a distinction” after the Atletico Madrid forward joined the suffering Premier League club on mortgage on Wednesday.

The Portugal international signed for the damage-hit Blues for a mentioned price of eleven million euros ($12 million) as Potter seeks to cut the distance to the pinnacle four, that’s already 10 factors.

Chelsea tweeted “the artist has arrived” as they welcomed the 23-yr-vintage, who had also been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.

“Chelsea is one of the extremely good groups in the international and I desire to help the crew attain their targets, so I am very, very glad to be right here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge,” Felix stated in a club announcement.

Potter said Felix might improve his aspect’s attacking options – Chelsea have scored simply 20 goals in the Premier League, much less than half of Manchester City’s tally.”He’s a great player. He could make a difference within the final 1/3 of the pitch,” Potter stated.

“He’s young however has nevertheless had lots of truly proper enjoy. He’s just a fine player that offers anyone a boost.

“We’ve been privy to him for some time – those styles of things don’t appear speedy. The accidents have sharpened the point of interest a little bit.”

Chelsea are ready to hear whether Felix became registered in time to feature towards Fulham at Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Felix joined Atletico from Benfica in 2019 for 126 million euros, making him one of the most pricey players of all time, and has scored 34 desires in 131 appearances for the club, winning La Liga in 2021.

He also featured in Portugal’s run to the World Cup zone-finals in Qatar closing month, scoring inside the three-2 victory against Ghana in the group level.

Also on Wednesday, Atletico confirmed that Felix had prolonged his settlement with the Spanish club for one more season, until June 2027.

“From Atletico Madrid we desire Joao Felix each success in this new professional level,” the Spanish membership said in a assertion.

Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin closing month described the ahead as a “international-elegance expertise” but stated a variety of of things, including his bothered dating with the club’s boss Diego Simeone, supposed they have to observe other alternatives for the participant.

“Personally, I would really like him to preserve however I suppose that right now the player has other ideas,” he stated.

Felix turns into Chelsea’s fourth signing of the January transfer window after the arrivals of Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos.

Potter stated there has been there has been nonetheless time for Chelsea to do greater business if the right players have become to be had.

“There’s time (for more signings),” he said. “Whether we’re going to locate the right players or now not is any other component.

“You must look on this window to make the proper selections, but it is complicated. We’re happy with what we’ve completed so far.”

Chelsea’s new American proprietors, who took over final May, have lavished extra than £three hundred million ($365 million) on new players to improve a squad that completed third within the Premier League last season.

But regardless of the heavy spending, Chelsea have endured a turbulent season, sacking manager Thomas Tuchel in September simply seven video games into the new campaign and replacing him with Potter, who has had to take care of a debilitating harm listing.

Chelsea are well adrift of a pinnacle-four spot in the Premier League after a miserable run of just one win in 8 league games.

They also are out of each home cup competitions after a humiliating four-0 defeat to Manchester City within the FA Cup 1/3 spherical at the weekend but face Borussia Dortmund inside the Champions League last 16.