Benfica have accelerated their talks to facilitate the return of Chelsea star Joao Felix this summer. (h/t [Record](https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-betclic/benfica/detalhe/benfica-acelera-joao-felix-regresso-a-luz-nunca-esteve-tao-perto)).
The prodigious Portuguese talent left Benfica to join Atletico Madrid in a record transfer in 2019 but has since failed to make his mark.
He has embarked on a nomadic stint at clubs, including Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan over the years.
The 25-year-old spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Milan from Chelsea in a bid to rejuvenate his declining career.
However, Felix’s short spell turned into a nightmare, coinciding with Milan’s horrendous season, which saw them finish outside European places.
With Milan opting against his permanent signing, Felix has returned to Stamford Bridge, where he finds himself surplus to requirements.
[Benfica want to provide Felix with an escape route](https://footballtoday.com/2025/04/16/benfica-want-to-sign-joao-felix-on-loan-from-chelsea-for-club-world-cup/), with president Rui Costa and manager Bruno Lage giving the green light for his return.
The Portuguese giants are pushing to bring Felix for the Club World Cup as they take on Boca Juniors in their opening game of the tournament on June 17.
Chelsea paid £45 million for Felix last year but might sell him for a lower fee due to their need to offload players to comply with PSR rules.
Benfica are also exploring a loan move with a mandatory purchase option as an alternative if they fail to reach an agreement over a transfer fee with the Blues.
Lage’s men recently parted ways with Angel Di Maria, and Felix can be the new face of the attack in the Argentine’s absence.
Felix was in sublime form for Benfica during the 2018/19 season, racking up 20 goals and 11 assists, but he has failed to recapture that level since then.