Joao Felix set for shock move after talks with Aston Villa break down as Marcus Rashford move nears

A huge European club have entered the race to sign out-of-favour Chelsea forward Joao Felix.

Felix, 25, signed for Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2024 for a reported fee of around £46.3m.

But despite being just six months into his second stint at the Blues – previously on loan in 2023 – he could be set to move on before the end of the January transfer window.

So far, during the 2024/25 campaign, he has failed to put together a consistent run of good form scoring just one goal in 12 Premier League appearances.

He missed last week’s 3-1 away defeat against Manchester City due to ‘compassionate leave’ following a family bereavement.

On Monday evening, journalist Fabrizio Romano issued an update on the player’s future and suggested a move to Aston Villa could be on the cards.

Villa boss Unai Emery is a huge admirer of Felix and even referred to him as a “special player” when speaking back in March 2023.

Joao Felix looks set to leave Chelsea (Credit:Getty)

“He’s a special player and it was not totally impossible for us (to sign him), but he wanted to play for a team in the Champions League,” Emery said. “We are realistic about how we can improve and how we can add players to improve our squad.

"He has a high salary and Chelsea paid a lot of money for that.

“I like him, but we were never really in the running for him. He can assist, score goals, drop deep to build up and he can play in the small spaces and drive into the box. He’s special."

However, a move to Villa now looks unlikely due to the club being “close” to signing Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on loan according to The Athletic.

Who could sign Joao Felix?

Well, AC Milan ‘want another forward’ as per Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, with the report even suggesting that “there will be a meeting with club directors” in the coming days.

Sergio Conceicao, the Milan head coach, is thought to be “pushing” to sign his fellow Portuguese.

Felix is contracted to Chelsea until the summer of 2030 and is valued at around £25.1m by Transfermarkt.