Joao Felix's return to Chelsea this summer was as surprising as it was welcomed by Blues fans.
The Portuguese star impressed during a loan-spell at Stamford Bridge in 2023, scoring four goals in 20 games and showcasing the sort of technical ability that prompted Atletico Madrid to pay Benfica €127 million for him back in 2019.
Despite his good performances, Chelsea boss at the time Mauricio Pochettino declined the opportunity to make Felix's move to West London permanent, and he returned to Spain, where he spent the following season on-loan with FC Barcelona.
Late this summer, however, Felix did finally complete a permanent move to Chelsea, joining for a fee of £46.3 million, with midfielder Conor Gallagher heading the other way to Atleti.
Speaking with the press on Wednesday, Felix explained exactly how his surprise return to the Bridge materialised.
"It was a strange one really," the 24-year-old said. "I was doing my pre-season with Atletico, yet to know whether I was staying or not. Then my agent called me to say that he’d spoken with Chelsea and that the coach wanted me. After two or three days, the negotiations were done and I came."
"I loved the time that I spent at the club previously," he said. "I enjoyed the Premier League, the players and the whole environment. I always wanted to come back, it happened a little earlier than I expected, but I’m really happy to be back at Chelsea."
Felix ready to "fight" for his place
Since returning to Chelsea, Felix has been limited to just 117 minutes of Premier League football for Enzo Maresca's side.
He has, however, been a regular for the Blues in their cup competitions, starting in the EFL Cup against Barrow in and both of Chelsea's Europa Conference League group games against Gent and Panathinaikos.
Against the latter on Thursday, Felix bagged two goals in a comprehensive 4-1 win at the Olympic Stadium in Athens.
"I'm here to fight for my place on the starting 11," Felix said after the game. "Then it depends on the coach [who] will play, but I'm doing my job, I'm working, and every time I can, I try to help the team."
Also on the scoresheet against Panathinaikos was Felix's fellow attackers Mykhailo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku.
Post-match, Maresca expressed his delight at all three players finding the net.
"For sure, happy for them, because especially, the attacking players, they need that," said the Italian coach. "Overall, all of them, they did a very good game."
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