Manchester City have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a joint British transfer record £125m.
The move ends Fernandez’s spell at Chelsea and gives City another major midfield addition. It also takes City’s spending to a Premier League record £458m in one transfer window.
That figure surpasses Liverpool’s previous record of £415m from last summer. However, City have also raised around £300m through player sales during the current window.
Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for a then British record £107m fee. His move to City now matches the £125m Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day last summer.
The two clubs spent the previous 24 hours negotiating before reaching an agreement earlier on Tuesday. Fernandez had pushed for a move throughout the summer after first targeting Real Madrid.
Enzo Fernandez Brings Chelsea Spell to an End
The 25 year old midfielder faced growing tension with Chelsea supporters during his final weeks at Stamford Bridge. Fans booed him during the friendly against Real Sociedad and again when he came on as a substitute against Fulham in the Premier League opener.
Fernandez did not feature in Chelsea’s 4 3 Premier League win over Brighton on Sunday. He also missed their 2 0 Carabao Cup victory against Luton Town three days earlier.
Reports from Argentina claimed Fernandez had asked to stay out of the squad. Chelsea had also set a 17:00 BST deadline on 14 August for clubs to submit offers worth at least £120m in an effort to resolve the uncertainty before the new season.
Fernandez later addressed Chelsea supporters in an open letter on Instagram.
“I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me,” Fernandez wrote in an open letter on Instagram addressed to Chelsea.
“Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven’t been in a good place.
“From the moment I arrived [at Chelsea], I became obsessed with winning and with bringing this club every trophy that its history deserves.
“We suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories. Together, through the good times and the difficult ones.”
Fernandez added that Chelsea would “always be in my heart”. He also admitted that leaving had been “difficult” and said he would “probably be thinking the same way” as the supporters if he were in their position.
The Argentina international now reunites with Enzo Maresca at Manchester City. Maresca worked with Fernandez during his time in charge of Chelsea and wanted another opportunity to coach the midfielder after City lost several midfielders this summer.
“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,” Fernandez told the club’s website.
“If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player.
“I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.”
The transfer marks the second time in two months that Manchester City have broken their own transfer record. They previously spent £116m to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in July.
Fernandez also becomes the fourth player to join a Premier League club for at least £100m this summer. Morgan Rogers moved to Chelsea for £117m, Bradley Barcola joined Liverpool for £123m, while Anderson completed his £116m switch to City.
Chelsea had hoped to keep Fernandez earlier in the summer. However, he had pushed to leave the club since March and ultimately refused to change his position.
Real Madrid remained Fernandez’s preferred destination for much of the summer. The Spanish giants, however, eventually released a statement ruling out an offer for the midfielder.
His move to Manchester City represents the second biggest sale in Chelsea’s history. Only Eden Hazard’s 2019 transfer to Real Madrid generated a larger fee for the London club.
The departure also strengthens Chelsea’s position in their pursuit of a new Premier League record for player sales. Fernandez’s transfer follows Nicolas Jackson’s £65m move to Aston Villa and Liam Delap’s £50m switch to Nottingham Forest.
Those deals have helped drive Chelsea’s summer sales beyond £400m. That figure represents a huge rise from the previous club record of around £300m set last season.
