Manchester City have finalized the acquisition of Argentina international Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, agreeing to a joint-British transfer record fee of £125 million. The 25-year-old, who has earned 49 caps for his country, reunites with City manager Enzo Maresca, having previously worked under the Italian during his tenure at Stamford Bridge.
This high-profile move elevates Manchester City’s total expenditure for the current transfer window to a Premier League record of £458 million, eclipsing the previous mark of £415 million set by Liverpool last summer. Despite this massive outlay, the club has also generated approximately £300 million through player sales during the same period.
The deal matches the £125 million fee Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on last year’s deadline day. Fernandez originally joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107 million, which was a British record at the time. Negotiations between the two clubs concluded on Tuesday after intense discussions over the previous 24 hours.
Fernandez’s departure follows a period of uncertainty that began when Chelsea issued a deadline of 17:00 BST on August 14, requesting offers of at least £120 million to resolve his future before the 2026-27 season commenced. The midfielder had recently faced hostility from some Chelsea supporters, including being booed during a friendly against Real Sociedad and again as a substitute in the league opener against Fulham.
In an open letter posted on Instagram, Fernandez acknowledged the difficulty of his final days at the club, stating, “I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven’t been in a good place.” He noted that while the decision to leave was painful, he understood the fans’ perspective, adding that Chelsea would “always be in my heart.”
The player missed Chelsea’s recent 4-3 win over Brighton and their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory against Luton, with reports from Argentina indicating he had requested to be omitted from the squad. Reflecting on his time in London, he expressed that he had become “obsessed with winning” and bringing trophies to the club.
Upon joining City, Fernandez expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge, telling the club’s website, “I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.” He promised to give his absolute best to his new team.
This transfer marks the second time in two months that Manchester City have broken their own transfer record, following the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in July. Fernandez is now the fourth player to command a fee of at least £100 million this summer, joining Morgan Rogers, who moved to Chelsea for £117 million, and Bradley Barcola, who joined Liverpool for £123 million. The report also notes that the clubs negotiated over the past 24 hours and reached an agreement earlier on Tuesday. The report also notes that from the moment I arrived [at Chelsea], I became obsessed with winning and with bringing this club every trophy that its history deserves. The report also notes that we suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories.
