Chelsea’s Joao Felix, on loan from Atletico Madrid, was sent off in the postponed seventh week clash against Fulham. The red card marked Felix’s first appearance for the London club in Premier League competition, turning an eagerly anticipated debut into a dramatic moment on the field.
The dismissal came as referee David Kut showed a straight red in the 57th minute following a scrappy altercation with Fulham’s Tete. The red card meant Felix left the pitch while Chelsea were still locked in a tight contest, and it made him the first Chelsea player ever to receive a red card on his Premier League debut. The incident quickly became a talking point among fans and analysts watching the match unfold.
Felix’s status at Chelsea has been defined by a loan arrangement with Atletico Madrid that runs through the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Reports tracked by Transfermarkt indicate that the loan fee for this arrangement stood at 11 million euros, a figure that underscores the expectations placed on the winger’s short-term impact in the team. The move was part of Chelsea’s broader strategy to bolster attacking options during a demanding phase of the season.
In the rescheduled league game, Chelsea were edged 2-1 by Fulham. Willian, a former Chelsea player, opened the scoring for Fulham and set the tone for the match’s early momentum. Chelsea’s response came through a strike from Kalidou Koulibaly, whose goal brought the sides level and briefly altered the momentum. The late winner arrived when Carlos Vinicius found the back of the net for Fulham, sealing the three points in a tense finish. The result added to the narrative of a season filled with ups and downs for Chelsea as they navigated changes in form and personnel.
Prior to the match, Chelsea’s management team and staff had been focused on ongoing integration and development under the club’s leadership. The public assessment of the team’s direction highlighted the work being done under the guidance of the club’s manager and his approach to building consistency across the squad. Observers and supporters alike watched closely as the coaching staff experimented with tactical setups and lineup choices in response to injuries and squad depth. This game’s outcome did little to dampen the conversation around Chelsea’s competitive ambitions in the Premier League.
Premier League Round 7 was officially the rescheduled fixture where the scoreline now stood as Fulham 2-1 Chelsea, with goals credited to Willian at 25 minutes, Koulibaly at 47 minutes, and Vinicius at 73 minutes. The sequence of events reflected the volatile nature of top-flight football where momentum can swing rapidly and individual moments often determine the final result.