Chelsea handed DREAM chance to sign Rafael Leao

Cameron Smith

11 Feb 2025 04:00 CST
4 min read

Rafael Leao, Chelsea, AC Milan — © IMAGO

AC Milan could reportedly offer Rafael Leao to Chelsea in exchange for Joao Felix as they look to sign the Blues star on a permanent deal this summer.

Article continues under the video

Felix, 25, endured a tough start to the new campaign at Stamford Bridge and he secured a loan move to Milan on January Transfer Deadline Day.

The Portugal international failed to usurp Cole Palmer in Enzo Maresca’s preferred XI following his summer move from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are already hoping to sell him on a permanent deal.

The Blues signed Felix for €52 million in August, but due to amortisation, they will reportedly avoid a financial loss if they sell him for €41.6m this summer.

Milan could reduce that cost further by including either Fikayo Tomori or Rafael Leao in a swap deal bid, according to Italian outlet Calciomercato.

While Chelsea are unlikely to be interested in re-signing Tomori, the possibility of exchanging Felix for Leao would be an intriguing proposition for the west London giants.

Maresca’s side have been linked with a move for the Portugal winger for the best part of three years, but their interest has cooled following the recent purchases of Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk and Jadon Sancho.

However, Chelsea are expected to pursue a new left winger this summer, due to Mudryk’s provisional suspension for doping, and the opportunity to sign Leao could be too good to turn down.

Furthermore, it would allow the Blues to offload Felix, whose career at Stamford Bridge appears to be over already.

© IMAGO - Joao Felix could join AC Milan on a permanent deal this summer

Joao Felix wants to stay at AC Milan

After scoring a delicate chip on his AC Milan debut, Felix admitted his desire to join the Italian giants on a permanent deal later this year.

“I knew about the greatness of this club, Milan are huge,” Felix told reporters. “From the outside, you can see it’s a very big club, and when you’re inside, you realise you’re in one of the biggest clubs in Europe. I already knew the coach, I had played against him, and I followed him.

“I told him what I expected: to play in my role. He never told me if I would play a lot or a little, but to play in my role. That’s what convinced me to come to Milan. For now, I’m on loan until June. Let’s see how it goes.

Current ETV

João Félix

F (L)

Milan

João Félix

F (L)

Milan

ETV Range

€33.4M - €40.8M

“At the moment, I’m really enjoying everything: the club, the people, the facilities. I’ve been welcomed very well. The most important thing is to be where I feel good, and I feel good here. Then, in football, things can change, but if there’s a possibility to stay at Milan, I would like that.

“I immediately loved the atmosphere at San Siro. I’ve experienced this kind of environment at Benfica and Atletico Madrid, but I must say the atmosphere here was different.”