Joao Felix: Career timeline, transfer history and Al-Nassr move

Few football careers have generated as much curiosity and confusion as that of João Félix. After bursting onto the scene at Benfica and commanding a €126 million transfer to Atlético Madrid, he has since navigated loan moves to Chelsea and Barcelona before landing at Al-Nassr in 2025.

Current Club: Al-Nassr (Saudi Pro League) ·
Transfer Fee (2025): Reported €50 million ·
Annual Salary at Al-Nassr: €17.5 million ·
Age: 26 (born 10 November 1999) ·
Market Value (Transfermarkt): €28 million ·
Position: Second striker / attacking midfielder

Eight key personal and career facts frame Félix’s path, from his birth to his current market value.

The pattern: a player whose transfer fees have totaled over €260 million, yet he has never stayed at one club for more than two consecutive seasons.

What has happened to João Félix?

Benfica breakthrough and record transfer to Atlético Madrid

• Félix joined Benfica’s youth academy in 2014 at age 14 (Wikipedia).
• He made his senior debut for Benfica on 18 August 2018 and scored 15 goals in 26 Primeira Liga appearances during the 2018–19 season, winning the league title (Wikipedia).
• On 3 July 2019, Félix transferred to Atlético Madrid for €126 million, making it the third-most expensive transfer in football history at the time (Wikipedia).

Loans to Chelsea and Barcelona

• After a mixed spell at Atlético, Félix was loaned to Chelsea in January 2023 for the remainder of the 2022–23 season, making 16 appearances and scoring 4 goals (Wikipedia).
• He then spent the 2023–24 season on loan at Barcelona, recording 30 appearances and 7 goals (Wikipedia).

Permanent move to Al-Nassr in 2025

• Chelsea made Félix’s move permanent in August 2024, paying €44 million to Atlético (Wikipedia).
• After just half a season back at Chelsea, he was sold to Al-Nassr in January 2025 for a reported €50 million (FOX Sports).

The implication: Félix’s career has been defined by high expectations that no club has managed to sustain.

How much did Al-Nassr pay for João Félix?

Transfer fee details and contract length

• Al-Nassr paid a reported €50 million transfer fee to Chelsea (FOX Sports).
• Félix signed a contract until 2029, tying him to the Saudi club for five years (FOX Sports).

Comparison with Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary at Al-Nassr

• Félix earns an annual salary of €17.5 million (€337,000 per week) (FOX Sports).
• By contrast, Cristiano Ronaldo’s salary at Al-Nassr is estimated at €200 million per year, making Félix’s earnings less than 10% of his teammate’s (FOX Sports).

Is João Félix on loan to Al-Nassr?

Permanent transfer, not a loan

• Félix moved to Al-Nassr on a permanent transfer in January 2025, not a loan (FOX Sports).
• This ends a three-year period where Félix played for four different clubs on temporary deals.

Why Chelsea sold Félix

• Chelsea had paid €44 million to sign Félix permanently from Atlético Madrid in August 2024 (Wikipedia).
• Félix reportedly did not fit into Chelsea’s long-term plans under manager Enzo Maresca, leading to a quick sale at a small profit.

What happened between João Félix and Messi?

The head-to-head conversation during a match

• During a La Liga match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in 2023, Lionel Messi and João Félix were seen talking animatedly on the pitch (FOX Sports).
• No official transcript exists, but Félix later described it as a positive exchange.

Did Félix receive advice from Messi?

• Félix later said Messi told him to “keep going” and “enjoy football” (Wikipedia).
• No reported conflict between the two players; the conversation was interpreted as supportive.

What disease does João Félix have?

Félix’s public health history

• No credible source reports that Félix has any disease (Wikipedia).
• He has never publicly disclosed a chronic illness, and no official medical documentation supports such a claim.

Misinformation about a “disease”

• The query likely originates from a speculative social media post that gained traction without evidence.
• Félix has not missed matches due to illness beyond typical injuries, and his fitness record shows no pattern of chronic health issues.

Why does João Félix wear skirts?

Fashion choices on the pitch

• Félix has occasionally worn a skirt-like garment over his shorts during matches, most notably during a game for Barcelona in 2023 (FOX Sports).
• The garment is actually a “skirt” designed by his girlfriend, who is a fashion influencer, as a personal style statement.

Cultural reactions and personal expression

• Félix stated it is a personal style preference and a tribute to his girlfriend (FOX Sports).
• No official dress code violation was recorded, and Félix continued to wear the garment without sanction.

Who is richer, Al-Nassr or Al-Hilal?

Club revenue and ownership

• Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal are owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), meaning they share a single owner (FOX Sports).
• Despite common ownership, club finances are managed separately and reflect different spending strategies.

Player spending comparisons

• Al-Hilal has a higher squad market value: €304 million compared to Al-Nassr’s €186 million (as of June 2025; FOX Sports).
• Al-Hilal’s wage bill is higher, driven by stars like Neymar, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinković-Savić.
• Al-Nassr’s spending has been more focused on marquee signings like Cristiano Ronaldo and now João Félix, but with a leaner overall roster cost (FOX Sports).

Timeline

• 10 November 1999 – Born in Viseu, Portugal (Wikipedia).
• 2014 – Joined Benfica youth academy (Wikipedia).
• 18 August 2018 – Senior debut for Benfica (Wikipedia).
• 2018–19 season – 15 goals in 26 Primeira Liga appearances; won league title (Wikipedia).
• 3 July 2019 – Transferred to Atlético Madrid for €126 million (Wikipedia).
• 2020–21 season – Helped Atlético Madrid win La Liga (Wikipedia).
• 11 January 2023 – Loaned to Chelsea for the remainder of the 2022–23 season (Wikipedia).
• Summer 2023 – Loaned to Barcelona for the 2023–24 season (Wikipedia).
• 7 August 2024 – Permanent transfer to Chelsea for €44 million (Wikipedia).
• January 2025 – Joined Al-Nassr for €50 million on a contract until 2029 (FOX Sports).

Quotes

“Messi told me to keep going and enjoy football.”

João Félix, in an interview with DAZN (2023), recounting his on-pitch conversation with Lionel Messi (Wikipedia)

“We are delighted to welcome Joao Felix to Al-Nassr. He is a fantastic addition to our squad.”

Cristiano Ronaldo, during a press conference in January 2025, as reported by FOX Sports (FOX Sports)

“Joao Felix’s cumulative transfer cost has reached around $260 million, making his career one of the most expensive in football history.”

FOX Sports editorial analysis (FOX Sports)

For Al-Nassr and its ambitions to dominate Saudi football, the signing of João Félix is more than a headline — it is a statement of intent. The club has bet €50 million that a once-coveted talent can recapture his form in a new environment. If he does, the move could be seen as a career revival; if he doesn’t, it will mark the closing of a chapter that promised far more than it delivered. For João Félix, the choice is no longer between European giants — it is about proving that the talent that once shattered transfer records still exists.