Manchester City have agreed a GBP 125 million (USD 169 million) deal with Chelsea to sign Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, in a transfer that matches the Premier League record fee.
The 25-year-old playmaker has completed his medical before the transfer deadline after City reached a financial agreement with Chelsea that equals the record sum Liverpool shelled out to Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer.
Enzo Fernandez had been pushing for a departure from Stamford Bridge despite various attempts by Chelsea to retain his services. The West London club had originally slapped a GBP 120 million valuation on the Argentine and set an August 14 cutoff date for potential suitors to present concrete bids.
Although that deadline lapsed without a resolution, Fernandez stood firm in his desire for a fresh start. Sources told ESPN that Manchester City stepped up talks over the last 48 hours, ultimately agreeing to pay GBP 5 million above Chelsea’s initial benchmark. The fee guarantees Chelsea FC a profit on the player they brought in from Benfica for GBP 107 million in February 2023.
Enzo Fernandez’s fallout at Chelsea
The midfielder’s rapport with Chelsea fans had soured significantly in recent weeks. Fans targeted him with boos during their final pre-season match against Real Sociedad and repeated the hostile reception in their Premier League opening fixture against Fulham.
Newly appointed Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso opted to drop Fernandez from the matchday squad during their midweek Carabao Cup triumph against Luton Town.
“It was better [for him] not to be part of the squad,” Alonso said after the decision.
Tensions regarding Enzo’s future had been brewing since last season. After Chelsea’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, he admitted to ESPN Argentina that his long-term stay at the club was uncertain.
Former head coach Liam Rosenior also benched him for two games after an interview where he praised Madrid amid transfer links to Real Madrid.
With the deal nearing completion, Chelsea were monitoring Roma’s Manu Kone and Monaco’s Lamine Camara as prospective midfield additions; however, they failed to land either of the transfer targets as the transfer window closed.
