“Enough is enough, I can’t continue to stay on the bench while the rest keeps playing rubbish. I love Chelsea but I have to leave because of my career. Please let me go” – This is according to Joao Felix as the underused ace ‘requests exit’ from Chelsea as Aston Villa show transfer interest

Joao Felix is reportedly seeking an exit from Chelsea due to frustration over limited playing time, according to journalist Duncan Castles.

Speaking on The Transfers Podcast, Castles revealed that the Portuguese forward is eager for a move away from Stamford Bridge, with a potential transfer on the horizon.

Felix, 25, joined Chelsea permanently from Atletico Madrid last summer for an initial €52 million, following a loan spell in the second half of the 2022/23 season. However, his time under Enzo Maresca has not gone as expected, as the head coach has opted for other attacking options.

Castles also claimed that Aston Villa remains a viable option for Felix. “Last summer, we reported that Unai Emery has been a long-time admirer of Felix and was interested in bringing him to Villa,” he said via FootballTransfers. “We could see a strike force featuring Watkins and Felix, either as an alternative centre-forward or playing alongside him for the remainder of the season.”

Felix has struggled for game time in the Premier League, starting only three matches and making 12 appearances without scoring since Chelsea’s second game of the season against Wolverhampton Wanderers in August.

Despite his league struggles, he has been more involved in cup competitions, scoring four goals in three Europa Conference League starts and featuring in domestic cup matches against lower-league opposition.

Reports also suggest that Felix has been offered to AC Milan, though the Serie A club has yet to decide, as they are also evaluating Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, who has impressed in the Champions League with goals against Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa could emerge as a strong contender for Felix’s signature, especially with Jhon Duran set for a move to Al-Nassr and Arsenal expressing interest in Ollie Watkins. If Villa needs attacking reinforcements, Felix could be a prime target.