João Félix
Who was João Félix?
Portuguese forward who became one of the most expensive transfers in football history when he moved from Benfica to Atlético Madrid for €126 million in 2019.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on João Félix (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
João Félix Sequeira was born on November 10, 1999, in Viseu, Portugal. Known for his skill as an attacking midfielder and forward, Félix quickly became one of the top young talents in European football in the late 2010s. He started his football journey at Porto's youth academy before moving to Benfica in 2015, a pivotal step in his early career.
Félix joined Benfica's reserve team in 2016 and was promoted to the senior squad in 2018, debuting at just 17. He played a key role in helping Benfica win the domestic league title and caught the eye of many in Europe, earning comparisons to past great Portuguese forwards. By the summer of 2019, at the age of 19, he transferred to Atlético Madrid for €126 million, becoming the fourth most expensive player ever and Atlético's costliest signing at that time.
While at Atlético Madrid, Félix experienced both success and challenges in a demanding system under Diego Simeone. He was a part of the team's 2020–21 La Liga title win, an unexpected victory given Real Madrid and Barcelona's usual dominance. However, his time in Madrid was hit or miss, with injuries and doubts about his fit in the team's defensive style. Seeking more opportunities, he was loaned to Chelsea for the 2022–23 season and then to Barcelona for 2023–24, where he thrived in a more attack-focused setup. Chelsea eventually signed him permanently in 2024.
In 2025, Félix moved to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, joining a league that welcomed many top European players. He made an immediate impact, helping the team to the league title and earning the Player of the Season award, marking a successful new phase in his career.
Internationally, Félix has been a steady presence for Portugal. He got his first senior cap during the 2019 UEFA Nations League Finals, where Portugal won the tournament at home. He also played in UEFA Euro 2020, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and Euro 2024. In 2025, he helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League again, solidifying his reputation as a key player for the national team.
Before Fame
João Félix grew up in Viseu, in central Portugal, where the football scene isn't as big as in Lisbon or Porto. From a young age, he showed great skill, earning a spot in Porto's well-known youth academy, a top place for developing young talent in Portuguese football. His technical skill and natural feel for the game made him stand out from others his age.
Leaving Porto to join Benfica in 2015, when he was 15, was a big move for him. Benfica has a strong track record of promoting young Portuguese players to their first team. Félix moved up the ranks steadily, and by 2018, his performances made it clear he was ready for the senior squad. His first season in the senior team caught the attention of top European clubs, turning him from a promising academy player into one of the most sought-after young footballers in Europe in just one season.
Key Achievements
- Won the 2020–21 La Liga title with Atlético Madrid
- Transferred from Benfica to Atlético Madrid for €126 million, the fourth most expensive football transfer in history at the time
- Won the inaugural UEFA Nations League with Portugal in 2019
- Named Saudi Pro League Player of the Season in 2024–25
- Won the 2025 UEFA Nations League with Portugal, securing a second major international title
Did You Know?
- 01.Félix's €126 million transfer fee to Atlético Madrid in 2019 made him the fourth most expensive footballer in history at the time, surpassing many established stars who had taken years to reach that market valuation.
- 02.He scored a hat-trick for Benfica against Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Europa League in 2018–19, a performance widely credited with accelerating global interest in his signing.
- 03.Despite being primarily associated with Atlético Madrid, Félix began his youth career at Porto, the club that is one of Atlético's kit supplier's historic rivals and Benfica's fiercest domestic competitor.
- 04.Félix was named Saudi Pro League Player of the Season in his debut year in the competition, 2024–25, making him one of the few European imports to win the award so quickly after arrival.
- 05.He won the inaugural UEFA Nations League in 2019 on Portuguese soil, earning his first senior international honour before his 20th birthday.