Joao Felix becomes second Chelsea star stripped of squad number in clear transfer message

Portugal international Joao Felix has struggled to find a club to call home in the past few years, and he would appear to be on the move again after his squad number was taken away

Joao Felix’s second spell at Chelsea seems destined for an inauspicious ending after the Portugal international saw his squad number given to new arrival Dario Essugo.

Felix, still just 25, joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid last summer in a deal worth an initial £42million, but after 20 appearances in all competitions he was on the move again, joining AC Milan on loan for the remainder of the season in February.

Now back at Chelsea, where he first arrived on loan from Atletico for the second half of the 2022-23 season, there would appear to be little prospect of Felix forcing his way into Enzo Maresca’s first-team plans for next season after he saw his No.14 shirt handed to his Portuguese compatriot Essugo.

The move is the latest twist in Felix’s career, with the attacker seemingly destined for his fifth change of clubs in the last two-and-a-half years.

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Felix has become the second Chelsea player to see their shirt number taken from them this summer after winger Mykhailo Mudryk’s No.10 was handed to talisman Cole Palmer, who vacates the No.20.

Mudryk remains provisionally suspended from football for alleged doping, and hasn’t kicked a ball for Chelsea since November.

Essugo has arrived at Chelsea in an £18.5million deal and will go into the squad for this summer’s Club World Cup. The Portugal under-21 international played 25 times for Sporting’s youth team, and had loan spells as Portuguese side Chaves and La Liga outfit Las Palmas in the past two seasons.

“It’s a big step to make in my early career,” said Essugo as he was unveiled by the Blues. “Every player dreams of getting to a big club, and Chelsea is no exception. It’s a massive club and I’m feeling proud and very happy to be here.

“Chelsea showed big interest in me. When that happens, you can’t turn it down. When my Dad told me Chelsea were interested, I was very happy and here we are now.”

Mamadou Sarr, another of Chelsea’s new arrivals, has taken the No.19 shirt that was worn by Jadon Sancho during the past season, with the Englishman’s loan spell from Manchester United having now ended.

“I feel really good, it’s like a dream for me,” Sarr said after his move. “Since I was young, I dreamed of playing for a club like this. Chelsea are one of the biggest clubs in the world and I am very happy.

“For me, Chelsea is the best club in London, one of the best clubs in England. Chelsea have a good project in place for young players. The supporters, the club, it’s history and the stadium are all fantastic. It’s an iconic club with a full history.”

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