Manchester City have completed the signing of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez for £125 million on deadline day, matching the British transfer record set by Liverpool's purchase of Alexander Isak last summer.
The 25-year-old Argentina international, who featured in his country's run to the 2026 World Cup final, had long been tipped to leave Stamford Bridge. The deal was finalized just minutes before the summer window closed at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday, with City confirming the move via a video on social media platform X.
Fernandez took to Instagram ahead of the deadline to bid an emotional farewell to Chelsea fans, writing: "These have not been easy days for me. I haven't been in a good place. Three years ago, Cobham and Stamford Bridge became home for me and my family. I was obsessed with winning and bringing this club every trophy it deserves. We suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories."
The Argentine was part of the Chelsea side that won the UEFA Conference League in 2025 and the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. City boss Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with Fernandez at Chelsea, was a driving force behind the deal, especially after the sales of Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez, and Tijjani Reijnders.
Fernandez will now partner with Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi in City's revamped central midfield, a trio costing over £300 million. "Every player wants to be part of a club like this, because everyone knows how well-run City are," Fernandez said in his statement. "This is a club built for success. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player."
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for £106 million in 2023, had a turbulent spell in London, including being dropped for two matches last season after expressing interest in Real Madrid. He scored twice in Argentina's World Cup campaign, including a stunning strike against England in the semifinal, but was sent off in the final as Argentina lost 1-0.
City's director of football, Hugo Viana, praised the signing: "He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious, and a goalscorer. To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything about his mentality and professionalism."
Source: www.aljazeera.com