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.
Simons and Hato latest
Chelsea are in advanced talks with Ajax over a deal for centre-back Jorrel Hato and have also held discussions over the signing of RB Leipzig’s Simons.
It’s understood Chelsea are ready to pay £44m (€50m) for Hato, but Ajax are holding out for around £52m (€60m).
Hato, who is contracted until 2028, has told Ajax he wants to leave.
The 19-year-old central defender, who can also play as a left-back, has been watched closely by Chelsea, whose interest is long-standing. He is a player they are understood to admire as he has quickly developed into one of the best young defenders in the world.
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The Best of Arsenal and Chelsea target Xavi Simons’ 2024/2025 season in the Bundesliga for RB Leipzig.
Meanwhile, attacking midfielder Simons – another player Chelsea have held talks over – is set to leave RB Leipzig this summer as he has two years left on his contract.
Chelsea have other targets, too, and any more incomings are dependent on players leaving.
Simons is in demand and may wait until later in the window before moving.
Who else might Chelsea sell?
Once again, Chelsea have another summer where they are looking to move on players from a bloated squad.
One of the other attacking players who could make way for Simons’ arrival is Christopher Nkunku – despite the Frenchman playing a significant role in Chelsea’s successful Club World Cup campaign.
Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku is congratulated after scoring his teams second goal during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Benfica and Chelsea in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, June 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Many of the players Chelsea are looking to move on were on loan last season, like Felix. One other player is Raheem Sterling, who returned from an unsuccessful spell at Arsenal last term.
Other players out on loan last term included Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi.
RB Leipzig are also interested in Carney Chukwuemeka, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. But it is Leipzig that are now pushing to sign the 21-year-old, who has three years left on his deal.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another player attracting interest, with Fulham keen on the former Leicester man.
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