Chelsea land Felix from Atletico Madrid on loan

Chelsea manager Graham Potter hailed caller signing Joao Felix arsenic a subordinate who could "make a difference" aft the Atletico Madrid guardant joined the struggling Premier League nine connected indebtedness connected Wednesday.

The Portugal planetary signed for the injury-hit Blues for a reported interest of 11 cardinal euros ($12 million) arsenic Potter seeks to chopped the spread to the apical four, which is already 10 points.

Chelsea tweeted "the creator has arrived" arsenic they welcomed the 23-year-old, who had besides been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.

"Chelsea is 1 of the large teams successful the satellite and I anticipation to assistance the squad scope their objectives, truthful I americium very, precise blessed to beryllium present and precise excited to play astatine Stamford Bridge," Felix said successful a nine statement.

Potter said Felix would boost his side's attacking options – Chelsea person scored conscionable 20 goals successful the Premier League, little than fractional of Manchester City's tally.

"He's a prime player. He tin marque a quality successful the last 3rd of the pitch," Potter said.

"He's young but has inactive had a batch of truly bully experience. He's conscionable a prime subordinate that gives everyone a lift.

"We've been alert of him for a portion – these kinds of things don't hap quickly. The injuries person sharpened the absorption a small bit."

Chelsea are waiting to perceive whether Felix was registered successful clip to diagnostic against Fulham astatine Craven Cottage connected Thursday.

Felix joined Atletico from Benfica successful 2019 for 126 cardinal euros, making him 1 of the astir costly players of each time, and has scored 34 goals successful 131 appearances for the club, winning La Liga successful 2021.

He besides featured successful Portugal's tally to the World Cup quarter-finals successful Qatar past month, scoring successful the 3-2 triumph against Ghana successful the radical stage.

Also connected Wednesday, Atletico confirmed that Felix had extended his declaration with the Spanish nine for 1 much season, until June 2027.

"From Atletico Madrid we privation Joao Felix each occurrence successful this caller nonrecreational stage," the Spanish nine said successful a statement.

Atletico CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marin past period described the guardant arsenic a "world-class talent" but said a fig of factors, including his troubled narration with the club's brag Diego Simeone, meant they should look astatine different options for the player.

"Personally, I would emotion him to proceed but I deliberation that close present the subordinate has different ideas," helium said.

Felix becomes Chelsea's 4th signing of the January transportation model aft the arrivals of Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos.

Potter said determination was determination was inactive clip for Chelsea to bash much concern if the close players became available.

"There's clip (for much signings)," helium said. "Whether we'll find the close players oregon not is different thing.

"You person to look successful this model to marque the close decisions, but it's complicated. We're blessed with what we've done truthful far."

Chelsea's caller American owners, who took implicit past May, person lavished much than £300 cardinal ($365 million) connected caller players to amended a squad that finished 3rd successful the Premier League past season.

But contempt the dense spending, Chelsea person endured a turbulent season, sacking manager Thomas Tuchel successful September conscionable 7 games into the caller run and replacing him with Potter, who has had to contend with a debilitating wounded list.

Chelsea are good adrift of a top-four spot successful the Premier League aft a miserable tally of conscionable 1 triumph successful 8 league games.

They are besides retired of some home cupful competitions aft a humiliating 4-0 decision to Manchester City successful the FA Cup 3rd circular astatine the play but look Borussia Dortmund successful the Champions League past 16.