Jamie Carragher has openly questioned Chelsea’s decision to permanently sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.
The former Liverpool defender and Sky Sports pundit has expressed his confusion over the Blues’ latest transfer, saying the signing makes no sense to him.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football programme, Carragher did not hold back in his assessment of Chelsea’s transfer policy.
The club, who have already made nine other signings this summer, agreed to bring Felix back to Stamford Bridge for around £33m ($42.9m).
Carragher criticises Chelsea’s transfer strategy
This comes just 18 months after his loan spell at the club, where he scored just four goals in the second half of the 2022/23 season. Last season, Felix was loaned to Barcelona, raising further questions about his adaptation to Chelsea.
Carragher expressed his concern, saying: “Chelsea have to stop buying players and players have to stop signing for Chelsea. I don’t know why, if I was a player, I would look at Chelsea and sign for them.”
He added that the only reason a player might be attracted to Chelsea is the financial security of a long-term contract, but argued that players should back themselves up with shorter deals at clubs where they have a clear role.
The former England international also questioned where Felix would fit into the team, given the size of the squad. “They’ve just signed Joao Felix, tell me where he’s going to play,” Carragher said.
He further emphasised the issue by jokingly wondering how Chelsea could fit all their players into the dressing room, given the inflated size of the squad.
Carragher’s comments highlight growing concerns over Chelsea’s approach to transfers, especially with the club’s focus on long-term contracts for players who might not have a guaranteed place in the starting lineup.
As the transfer window closes, it remains to be seen how Chelsea will handle their extensive squad and whether Felix can find his place in the team.
