How Joao Felix Could Outshine Saka and Foden at Chelsea
Joao Felix’s arrival at Chelsea is set to transform the club’s attacking options, bringing in a player who could rival the influence of stars like Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden. Despite rumours that Chelsea were "forced" into signing Felix, the reality is quite the opposite. The club has been keen on making the Portuguese forward a permanent addition since last season, though former manager Pochettino wasn’t initially on board with the move.
Felix, at 24, mirrors the age at which Mohamed Salah joined Liverpool and began his ascent to becoming one of the Premier League’s most feared attackers. While Felix may not have reached the astronomical expectations set for him when he left Benfica for Atlético Madrid in 2019, he remains a unique talent. Unlike traditional wingers or strikers, Joao Felix is a versatile forward with top-tier dribbling and shooting abilities, making him a constant threat to any defence.
Félix vs. The Best: How Does He Stack Up?
In comparing Felix to players like Luis Díaz, Phil Foden, Gabriel Martinelli, Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka, and Jamal Musiala, the numbers speak volumes. Over the past year, Felix has dominated in key offensive metrics across Europe’s top leagues:
Non-Penalty xG (npxG): Felix leads with 0.49 per 90 minutes, placing him in the 99th percentile.
Total Shots: He averaged 3.68 shots per 90 minutes, ranking in the 96th percentile.
npxG + xAG: Felix also excelled in this combined metric with 0.66 per 90 minutes, landing him in the 95th percentile.
Only Phil Foden outperformed Félix in Non-Penalty Goals, with 0.62 per 90 minutes, compared to Félix’s 0.47. Bukayo Saka led in assists, with 0.35 per 90 minutes, but it’s clear that Félix’s strength lies in his ability to create and convert goal-scoring opportunities rather than setting them up.
These stats indicate that Joao Felix is more than capable of becoming a focal point in Chelsea’s attack. While he may not rack up assists like Saka, his ability to generate high-quality chances and finish them makes him a potentially game-changing addition to the squad. As he prepares to debut in the famous blue shirt, fans have every reason to be excited about what Felix can bring to Stamford Bridge.
What position can Joao Felix play?
Felix plays from the left or centre-left, he is not a typical winger, but rather a comprehensive forward who likes to sneak through the middle of the park.
