Manchester City have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for £125 million, equalling the joint-British transfer record and taking City’s summer spending to a Premier League record £458 million for a single window.
The deal was agreed within the past 24 hours after Chelsea set a deadline of 17:00 BST on August 14 for clubs to make offers of £120 million or more, as both clubs moved to end weeks of uncertainty surrounding the Argentina international.
Fernandez, 25, had arrived at Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for what was then a British record fee of £107 million. His exit from Stamford Bridge follows a turbulent few weeks. He was booed by Chelsea fans during a pre-season friendly against Real Sociedad and again when introduced as a substitute in their Premier League opener at Fulham. He was absent from Chelsea’s 4-3 Premier League win over Brighton on Sunday and their Carabao Cup victory against Luton, with reports from Argentina suggesting he had asked to be left out of the squad.
In an open letter posted to Instagram, Fernandez addressed Chelsea supporters directly. “I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me,” he wrote. “I haven’t been in a good place.” He described an obsession with winning titles for the club, acknowledged the difficult days alongside the celebrations, and said Chelsea would “always be in my heart.” He also told fans he would “probably be thinking the same way” as them if their positions were reversed.
The move reunites Fernandez with City manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with him during his time as Chelsea head coach. Maresca has lost a significant number of midfielders this summer and identified Fernandez as a priority addition. “I could not be happier to be here,” Fernandez said on City’s website.
“I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.”
City’s £458 million window surpasses Liverpool’s £415 million record from last summer, though significant player sales of around £300 million have offset much of the outlay. It is also City’s second British record broken in two months, following the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in July.
Fernandez becomes the fourth player to move to a Premier League club for at least £100 million this summer, joining Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola, and Anderson.
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