Fabrizio Romano confirms Joao Felix-Gallagher deal at FINAL STAGES

Carlo Garganese

18 Aug 2024 03:30 CDT
3 min read

Joao Felix, Conor Gallagher, Chelsea — © IMAGO

Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have advanced negotiations that will see Joao Felix and Conor Gallagher switch teams.

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Romano says that the two clubs are now discussing the final details, with the two transfers expected to be completed very soon.

The transfer journalist says that Chelsea will pay around €40 million plus add-ons for Felix.

Atletico Madrid will pay €40m for Gallagher, and the Spanish club hope to have signed him by Wednesday when they present all their new summer signings at the Wanda Metropolitano.

This news will come as a relief for many Chelsea and Atletico fans in what has been one of the transfer sagas of recent weeks.

Gallagher’s transfer to Atletico Madrid spectacularly collapsed last week when it appeared to be a done deal.

After Samu Omorodion’s €40 million move from Atletico Madrid to Chelsea fell through, this has had a knock-on effect on Gallagher’s deal.

Gallagher was on the verge of signing for Atletico after passing a medical in Madrid - with transfer fee and contract terms agreed - but that deal then fell through.

Chelsea requested for Gallagher to return to London and he is now back in training with the Blues Under-21 team.

Joao Felix’s transfer to Chelsea - which was seen as an alternative to the original Omorodion deal in order to rescue the Gallagher deal - also initially stalled.

But it seems that the two clubs have now rescued these two transfers, which should be official next week.

© IMAGO - Joao Felix will be returning to Chelsea

Felix to return to Chelsea

Felix spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge in 2023 and he wants to return to west London.

As for Gallagher, he has been transfer listed by Chelsea all summer as his contract expires in 2025.

Ahead of Chelsea’s opening Premier League match against Manchester City on Sunday, Blues boss Enzo Maresca was asked for an update on Gallagher.

“Conor is back in training at this moment a bit apart [from the first-team squad],” Maresca admitted.

“He is having medical tests and he is trying to find a solution [to move to Atletico], so we will see what happens. Hopefully, for Conor and the club, everyone will be happy.”