Chelsea outcast Joao Felix has been stripped of his shirt number just hours after being excluded from their Club World Cup squad.
The 25-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan, looks set to leave west London for a third time after being snubbed by Enzo Maresca.
The Blues unveiled new signing Dario Essugo on Wednesday and handed him the number 14 shirt.
It means Essugo, who they snapped from Sporting Lisbon for £18.8million, has been given Felix’s shirt, leaving the Portuguese flop without a squad number.
Chelsea’s team will remain divided going into the Club World Cup, with Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi and Djordje Petrovic also axed from the tournament squad.
The Blues kick off their campaign next Monday against LAFC before further group fixtures against Flamengo and ES Tunis.
Chelsea have completed the signing of 20-year-old Portuguese midfielder Dario Essugo
Joao Felix has now been stripped of his shirt number, with his countryman being handed the 14
Enzo Maresca’s side unveiled new signing Essugo on Wednesday with the number 14 shirt
Felix won’t be heading to the tournament despite Chelsea signing him for £43m just last year.
He only scored once in 12 Premier League appearances this season before being shipped out to Italy in February.
Chelsea saw potential when they first signed Felix from Atletico Madrid in a £9m loan deal back in January 2023.
But he was sent off on his debut against Fulham, and finished the campaign with four goals in 20 appearances.
His first stint was not enough to earn him a permanent move but the Blues returned for him the following year.
After impressing during a loan spell at Barcelona, they brought him to west London on a six-year deal.
It seemed a strange move on Chelsea’s part to tie down Felix down to such a long-term contract, and less than six months later he was sent on his way to Milan after failing to break into Maresca’s starting XI consistently.
Felix only scored once in 12 Premier League games this season before being shipped out
Essugo, who has been snapped from Sporting Lisbon for £18.8million, was handed number 14
Chelsea’s announcement for Essugo makes no reference to Felix.
Following the 20-year-old’s move to Chelsea, he said: ‘It’s a big step to make in my early career.
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.’
