Joao Felix Joins Al-Nassr: Inside Football’s Most Puzzling Career

Breaking News update July 30, 2025

Joao Felix Joins Al-Nassr: Inside Football’s Most Puzzling Career

By Zamal Uddin

The football world has witnessed another surprising twist as Portuguese forward Joao Felix completes a transfer to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr on a two-year deal worth up to £43.7 million. At just 25, Felix’s journey—from a teenage superstar at Benfica to one of football’s most expensive transfers—has turned into one of the sport’s most confusing career paths.

From Benfica Wonderkid to Record-Breaking Transfer

Felix emerged as a teenage sensation at Benfica, scoring 20 goals in 43 appearances during the 2018/19 season. His exceptional talent made him the third-most expensive transfer in football history, with Atletico Madrid signing him for £113 million in 2019 to replace Antoine Griezmann.

Despite his talent, Felix struggled to fully adapt to Diego Simeone’s demanding system, scoring 35 goals in 131 matches for Atletico. While he helped the club win the La Liga title in 2020/21, his inconsistency and clashes with Simeone led to multiple loan spells.

Loan Spells at Chelsea, Barcelona, and AC Milan

Felix’s career took several detours with loan moves to Chelsea, Barcelona, and AC Milan, but none restored his early Benfica magic:

Chelsea (2023): Scored 4 goals but faced disciplinary issues and limited starts.
Barcelona (2023/24): Netted 10 goals, including two against Atletico, but the club chose not to make the move permanent.
AC Milan (2025): Managed only 3 goals in 21 appearances before returning to Chelsea.

These stints highlighted his flair and creativity but also exposed his lack of defensive work rate, making him a poor fit for modern high-pressing systems.

The Missed Benfica Return and Saudi Move

Rumors earlier this summer hinted at a romantic return to Benfica, where Felix could reignite his career under coach Bruno Lage. However, wage demands and Chelsea’s financial stance made the move impossible.

Instead, Felix has joined Al-Nassr, reuniting with former Benfica coach Jorge Jesus and playing alongside Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo.

Why Al-Nassr?

The move signals a major shift in Felix’s ambitions. According to Portuguese journalist Marcus Alves:

“The feeling in Portugal is that Joao Felix has officially stepped away from being a truly elite European player. Those six months at Benfica might remain the peak of his career.”

Spanish football analyst Guillem Balague added:

“He’s gifted but doesn’t adapt to the modern forward’s responsibilities. Clubs have tried to reshape him, but he’s unwilling to change his style.”

What’s Next for Felix?

Despite winning two Nations League titles with Portugal and earning 45 international caps, Felix has never scored more than 10 goals in a European season since leaving Benfica.

At Al-Nassr, he will have the chance to revive his confidence and scoring form in a less tactically rigid environment. Whether this marks a career reset or a permanent exit from European elite football remains to be seen.