Joao Felix's red card against Fulham is set to cost Chelsea a huge £2.1million after he joined Chelsea on Wednesday from Athletico Madrid. Felix made his debut for Chelsea in the west London derby on Thursday, with Fulham winning 2-1. However, after impressing in the beginning, his debut ended catastrophically as he was sent off for a reckless sliding tackle on Fulham defender Kenny Tete.
Signing
On Wednesday, Chelsea had confirmed the signing of the 23-year-old wonderkid on a loan deal until the end of the Premier League season. However, in order to secure the Spanish wonderkid, Chelsea agreed to pay a loan fee of £10m for the short-term deal - while they will also cover Felix's wages during his time in west London - estimated to be worth £6m. This works out as a cost of £16m for Chelsea over the remaining 21 Premier League games, including Thursday's defeat to Fulham.
Aftermath
Therefore, Chelsea will be paying £714,286 per game to have Felix as part of their squad as they try to pick themselves up from a disastrous start to the season that has seen them declining in the middle of the Premier League table. Felix's dismissal for 'violent conduct' means he will miss Chelsea's Premier League games with Liverpool, Fulham and West Ham United. In total, as part of the loan deal, this three-game suspension for Felix will cost his new club £2,142,858. Despite his costly mistake on and off the pitch, which leaves the under-pressure Chelsea manager Graham Potter with further selection dilenma's, the Englishman defended the Portuguese forward after the game.
'A forward's tackle,' said Potter.
'It didn't feel like an emotional one. It was miscontrolled, and a football action that can happen with the speed of the Premier League. He didn't go to hurt anybody. He didn't lose his head. They're all learning moments. Joao is a young player, top player, and you see his qualities. There was no malice in it at all but I understand why it was a red. It was a little bit high and the referee has decision to make. It's really frustrating, incredibly challenging and I feel for the supporters. It is another blow the hits keep coming at the moment. He was really good you could see his quality in the game so to lose Joao for three matches is really disappointing.'
The defeat to their west London rivals leaves Chelsea in 10th place - 10 points off the top four - and having played a game more than Manchester United who sit in fourth on the Premier League table.