120 million SEK for just over four months with Joao Felix in a Chelsea shirt.
Undeniably shortsighted and expensive.
But it does send a strong signal that this season is still considered salvageable.
Yes, of course there is a lot of season left and of course a lot of things can happen.
But the fact remains that Chelsea are in tenth place with ten points off the Champions League line.
The fact remains that Chelsea have a squad riddled with holes and in need of repair despite spending a fortune on new signings this summer. The fact remains that they have an odd amount of damage.
The fact remains that a lot is very uncertain about Chelsea in 2022/23 and that it would have been almost a springtime achievement if they had reached the top four in the remaining half of the series.
However, the loan signing of Joao Felix, which has now been submitted and completed, suggests that they are not really giving up and are already looking forward to next season.
Incredibly exciting crisis resolution
There is a lot to say about this temporary move for the 23-year-old Portuguese. The fact that he is set at over SEK 120 million, as he is estimated to cost several million per match, is one thing. However, it’s a pretty big deal considering the London club don’t have a buy-out option baked into the agreement, considering Felix is extending (!) with Atlético in terms of the loan and considering that in all respects he appears to be a fast-fix.
Of course, it’s also possible to point out that Chelsea’s most pressing need lies in a quality goalscorer rather than an attacking piece whose strength lies in creating goalscoring chances and who nonetheless shares some similarities with players like Kai Havertz and Mason Mount. There is certainly tremendous short-term thinking about resolving this crisis.
But for me, resolving the crisis is still incredibly exciting.
I dare to promise it
Most people would probably agree that Joao Felix has not reached his highest potential in an Atletico shirt. Most people would also probably agree that we still have to see glimpses of him, in one form or another, since the billion-dollar move from Benfica in 2019.
He is a player who, with his God-given technique, finishing and unparalleled quality, can change matches in the blink of an eye. A player who can create everything from nothing.
A player who will make Chelsea a better team for the rest of the season – I almost dared to promise that.
Of course it would have been better for Chelsea to have a clear path in the deal to make the move permanent at the end of the season. Of course, you won’t automatically have a successful year with this half year loan alone.
But at least an offensive reinforcement sends a signal that this league season is still in the process of being salvaged.
More than anything we’ve seen from Stamford Bridge this season.