Manchester City have agreed a £125 million deal with Chelsea for Enzo Fernandez, a fee that matches the British transfer record. The Argentina midfielder passed a medical on deadline day, September 1, and will link up with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium.
How the Deal Came Together
Fernandez’s move went through in the closing hours of the summer window, with Sky Sports confirming the £125m fee and reporting that the transfer needed only formal paperwork to be finalised once the medical was cleared.
The 25-year-old joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for £107m, a deal that carried its own British record at the time. Selling him for £125m gives Chelsea an £18m profit on a player who never fully escaped scrutiny over that original price tag, despite three full seasons in west London.
City had already turned over a large part of their midfield this summer, and the addition of Fernandez gives Maresca a World Cup finalist to build around in the middle of the pitch.
Reuniting with Enzo Maresca
The reunion with Maresca is central to why Fernandez pushed for the move. Maresca managed Fernandez during his final season at Chelsea before leaving to take over at Manchester City this summer, replacing Pep Guardiola after a near-decade in charge.
Fernandez posted a farewell message to Chelsea supporters referencing “a place in my thoughts and, above all, in my heart,” a message that stopped short of any parting shot at the club and focused on gratitude for his time there.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said City “look a lot stronger now” following the signing, adding that the club would be the biggest challenger to Arsenal for the Premier League title this season.
Fernandez arrives with his transfer value still riding high after Argentina’s run to the World Cup final in July, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain. He scored the equaliser in Argentina’s semi-final win over England, a moment TuSportNews covered in detail as part of the wider history between the two nations.
Why Chelsea Let Him Go
Chelsea’s willingness to sell a player signed for a British record fee less than three years ago points to a squad still being reshaped since Maresca’s own departure from the club. CBS Sports reported that the fee was one of the most significant of deadline day across European football, with Chelsea using the funds to continue restructuring their midfield options.
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp summed up the club’s position simply, noting that once a player wants to leave, there is little value in trying to keep him.
What Happens Next
Fernandez is expected to be registered in time for Manchester City’s next Premier League fixture, with an official unveiling to follow once the paperwork clears at both the Premier League and the FA. Maresca will then have to work out how Fernandez fits alongside City’s existing midfield options, a question that will only be answered once he is available for selection.