Chelsea: Joao Felix insists he’s ‘very, very happy’ to join club in first interview since loan move

Chelsea’s new signing Joao Felix has spoken for the first time since joining the club on loan, insisting he will “give the fans a lot of fun” between now and the end of the season.

Felix has signed for the Blues on short-term loan from Atletico Madrid, who opted not to include a buyout clause in the deal while also giving their player a one-year contract extension.

The Portugal international is therefore expected to return to Atlético next season, but Graham Potter at least has another attacking option at his disposal to help turn his nightmarish campaign around.

Chelsea’s new signing Joao Félix speaks for the first time since joining the club.

Félix joined the Blues on loan from Atlético Madrid until the end of the season on Wednesday

And even though it only seemed like a short stay, Felix spoke of his joy at joining Chelsea in his first interview on Wednesday.

“I’m very, very happy to be here at Chelsea,” he said. in a video on the club’s website. ‘It is one of the best teams in the world and I look forward to helping the team achieve its goals.

“So I’m very happy and very excited to play here and to play at Stamford Bridge.”

Félix recalled playing at Stamford Bridge in 2021, although no fans were present at the stadium for Atlético’s Champions League round of 16 defeat against Chelsea due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 23-year-old described Chelsea as ‘one of the great teams in the world’ after signing

He also remembered the time he had passed Reece James during a previous trip to London.

He was then asked about the Blues stars of the past and said: ‘Chelsea players I remember, I can say Portuguese players: Deco, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, [Raul] Meireles.

But there are other non-Portuguese players that I also like, like [Eden] Danger Frank Lampard [Didier] Drogba.

Felix, who has spent the last three and a half years at Atletico after completing a £113m move from Benfica, will have no compatriots at Chelsea given he is the only Portuguese star in Potter’s team.

Felix took part in his first training session as a Chelsea player at Cobham on Wednesday.

The Blues are still waiting for confirmation if they will be able to play against Fulham on Thursday

Graham Potter said his new signing is ready to ‘go straight’ from a physical perspective

Félix was all smiles at Cobham along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2nd from right) and Jorginho (3rd from left)

The Portuguese star will wear the 11 at Chelsea

The 23-year-old isn’t up against a complete stranger though, having already crossed paths with one of his new teammates during a previous trip to London.

He continued: ‘So I don’t know much about London, but I know it’s a great city, it’s a wonderful city. But now I’m focused on helping the team.

‘I met Reece James once when he was in London at a restaurant. An amazing guy.

Since leaving for Atlético in the summer of 2019, Félix has generally failed to live up to expectations, recording just 34 goals and 18 assists in 131 appearances for the Spanish club.

Reports suggest he has had a rocky relationship with manager Diego Simeone, meaning a January loan spell made sense for both parties.

However, after joining Chelsea, Felix vowed to ‘play happily’ and excite the fans during his brief spell in England.

He said: ‘I will bring my football, my happiness in the game and give a lot of fun to the fans.’

Before adding: ‘I don’t like to talk about myself, but I will say that I am a player who wants to have the ball and play with joy.

“I want all the fans to enjoy my football and help the team.”

Felix vowed to ‘provide lots of fun for the fans’ at Stamford Bridge after arriving in London