Joao Felix becomes fifth most-expensive player of all time as he agrees Atletico Madrid switch

Atlético de Madrid have agreed a deal worth €126 million with Benfica to make 19-year-old striker Joao Felix the fifth most expensive player of all-time.

The Portuguese side have accepted an offer of €30 million up front with €96 million in deferred payments, which will incur costs of €6 million, guaranteeing the club €120 million.

This offer was declared to the Portuguese stock market last week and Benfica revealed on Wednesday that the offer, which is €6 million higher than the release clause, had been accepted.

It completes a remarkable 12 months for the teenager, who was yet to make his senior debut 12 months ago and has gone on to star in the Champions League and debut for his country.

In April, he became the youngest player ever to score a Europa League hat-trick in a 4-2 Europa League win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

His form earned him a call-up to the national side for the UEFA Nations League finals, debuting in the 3-1 semi-final win over Switzerland in Porto.

Felix is the latest in a string of signings Diego Simeone has made early in this transfer window with the arrival of Hector Herrera and Felipe Monteiro from Porto also close to completion.

Gelson Fernandes will arrive from Monaco, Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid and Renan Lodi from Athlético Paranaense, while Manchester City have bought out Rodri’s €70 million release clause.