Could João Félix be making a return to Benfica?
While many players relish the spotlight that comes with transferring between clubs, few would blame João Félix for wanting to escape it as he prepares to leave Chelsea during this summer’s transfer window. His tenure at Stamford Bridge has been a series of disappointments and missed opportunities, mirroring the struggles that have characterized his entire career. Once again, Félix has fallen short of expectations and the hefty transfer fee associated with him.
Recent reports from Portugal suggest that the talented 25-year-old is set to return to Benfica in a deal where the Liga Portugal club would pay €20 million for 50% of his rights. If Benfica chooses to pay the full €40 million to finalize the move, Félix’s cumulative transfer fees over his career would soar to an astonishing €236 million. This would place him above Ousmane Dembélé (€220 million) and just behind Cristiano Ronaldo (€247 million), Romelu Lukaku (€369 million), and Neymar (€400 million) in the ranks of the most expensive players in football history.
Félix’s career narrative is marked by high-profile transfers that he has often struggled to justify. In 2019, he made headlines when he left Benfica for Atlético Madrid in a staggering €127.2 million transfer—the fifth-largest fee in football history. Unfortunately, he has not consistently performed at a level to merit that valuation. His market value initially surged to €100 million but steadily declined due to lackluster performances. By the time he joined Chelsea on loan in January 2023, his market value had plummeted to €50 million and continued to drop.
Despite the hope that a transfer to Barcelona would breathe new life into his career, his market value continued to decline. By the summer of 2024, it had fallen to €30 million. Although Chelsea’s fee for him was less than half of what Atlético paid five years earlier, it hung over him as a heavy burden. Since then, he has struggled to perform even close to the relatively modest €52 million investment made by Chelsea.
An examination of his career goals and assists reveals that Félix has consistently underperformed outside of Portugal. Injuries have been a factor; ankle problems led him to miss significant playing time during the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons. However, this still does not excuse the fact that his goal contributions have significantly declined, averaging only half of what he achieved in his last season at Benfica over the next six seasons.
Given this context, a return to Benfica could be the ideal path for Félix. Despite the tremendous fees paid for him and the efforts of several major clubs, he has yet to fulfill the potential he exhibited when he departed Portugal in 2019. Perhaps, after some time away from the spotlight of European football, he can rediscover his form and resume the success he enjoyed at the club that launched him into stardom.
