Joao Felix Thrives After Chelsea Exit

Joao Felix believes he made the right decision leaving Chelsea for Al-Nassr last summer, having scored 15 goals and provided 11 assists in 26 league games.

What happened?

The Portuguese forward joined Al-Nassr ahead of the 2025-26 season for a reported €30m after struggling to break into the Chelsea starting 11 under Enzo Maresca. He initially joined Chelsea on loan for the second half of the 2022-23 campaign, then permanently, but was loaned out to AC Milan last January after scoring just once in 12 Premier League appearances in 2024-25.

Why it matters for Joao Felix

Joao Felix has thrived in the Saudi Pro League, playing regularly and getting plenty of minutes in his natural position. He feels complete confidence in himself, especially when playing in his position, and is happy at Al-Nassr. The team is having a fantastic season, leading the league by three points with eight games to go.

What comes next?

Joao Felix hopes to win the league, and with four teams fighting for the title, the competition is fierce. There are just seven points separating leaders Al-Nassr and fourth-place Al-Qadsiah heading into the run-in. Joao Felix defended the critics of the Pro League, insisting that most of the matches are very competitive. Apart from three or four teams at the bottom of the table, against whom victory is almost guaranteed, the other matches are evenly matched. He added that the move to Al-Nassr was positive, and he's enjoying football, which is the most important thing. Joao Felix's time at Chelsea was lovely, but he moved because he wanted to play often. He did what he needed to do, and the move has paid off so far. Al-Nassr is in first place with eight games left, and Joao Felix is playing in a system that suits him very well. He's been playing regularly and getting plenty of minutes, which has helped him regain his confidence. The Portuguese forward is happy with his decision to leave Chelsea and is looking forward to the rest of the season.