Chelsea have signed Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid for £46.3 million, while Conor Gallagher has been signed for £36 million.
The Blues have paid a fixed fee of £42million plus a further £4.3million for Felix, with the Portugal international signing a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old has returned to Chelsea on a permanent deal after being on loan for six months during the second half of the 2022/23 season, and has scored four goals in 16 Premier League appearances.
Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 games.
Felix said: “I’m very happy to be back at Chelsea and I can’t wait to start playing. I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which always feels good.”
“I loved my time here before and I told my friends and family that I would love to come back to the Premier League one day. To do it with Chelsea is a great feeling and I’m excited to be back.”
The former Benfica player becomes Chelsea’s 10th summer signing after Tosin Adarabioyo, Omari Kellyman, Marc Guieu, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Renato Veiga, Caleb Wiley, Aaron Anselmino, Philip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto.
Felix’s arrival takes Chelsea’s spending to £202.6million, making them the biggest-spending team in the Premier League this summer.
However, the west London club’s spending spree is far from over as they are believed to look to sign a new striker during this period once their deal for Felix is completed.
napoli Victor Osimhen He has been a target throughout the summer but at the moment Chelsea will not sign him on a permanent basis.
Gallagher moves in the opposite direction in a £36m deal
Conor Gallagher has joined Atletico Madrid from Chelsea. Photo: Atletico Madrid
Felix’s signing secured Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico Madrid, which was confirmed on Wednesday morning.
Gallagher’s transfer fell through after Chelsea’s move for the Atlético striker failed. Samu OmorodiyonBut the deal was revived after the Blues agreed to sign Felix.
Atlético were determined to sign Gallagher, having been very impressed with him during his five-day stay in Madrid and the way he handled the situation further strengthened their desire to add him to their squad.
The England international had passed a medical and agreed a five-year deal to join Atlético while in Madrid, and the club watched him at the Wanda Metropolitano before returning.
But the 24-year-old is now officially an Atletico player after signing a contract with the club until 2029.
In a video message on Instagram, Gallagher said: “To everyone at Chelsea, thank you for making my dreams come true.
“It has been an honour every time I wore the jersey and it has been a dream come true to captain the team on so many occasions. I have enjoyed every moment. These memories will last forever.”
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Watch Conor Gallagher’s best moments for Chelsea last season in the Premier League
“I appreciate all the love and support I’ve received from the fans. Hearing my name chanted at the Bridge is a special feeling, and the banner you’ve shown me means a lot to me. Thank you for everything.”
“I wish the club all the best for the future, and hope to see you all at Stamford Bridge soon!”
Nev and Cara: Warning signs, alarm bells and ‘heartbreak’ at Chelsea
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Gary Neville believes Chelsea can have a good season, but thinks their recruitment is ‘chaotic and bizarre’, and Jamie Carragher questions where Joao Felix will play
After another “chaotic” summer at Stamford Bridge, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have highlighted the “bizarre” problems Chelsea have brought upon themselves.
Neville said: “One thing we know is that they have recruited poorly. There are some players they bought two years ago and now they are trying to get rid of them. The contract lengths being reported seem chaotic and bizarre.
“I often ask this question; what is it that they know that the rest of football doesn’t? Smart clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester City – what does this group of owners know that the rest of football doesn’t?
Carragher said: “Chelsea have to stop buying players, and players have to stop signing for Chelsea. If I was the player, I’d be thinking, ‘Why would I sign?’.”
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Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports News explains why Chelsea have decided to offer their players a total of 191-year contracts
“You’ll only sign because your agent will say, ‘We’re getting a seven-year deal for a big amount of money, with money guaranteed for seven years.
“You know what I’d say? Back yourself, get a four-year contract at a proper club. When your contract comes up for renewal, your money will go up anyway.
“This is not a young and exciting team. They bought Joao Felix, where will he play? They signed Pedro Neto a week ago, where will he play, when you already have Cole Palmer?”
“You want to ask where Joao Felix is going to play, I have another question – where will he change clothes at the training ground?
“How are all these players in the same dressing room? How are you organising the training sessions?”
