Enzo Fernandez, the Argentina international, has signed with Manchester City from Chelsea for a fee of £125 million ($169 million), equaling the British transfer fee record. The transfer was completed on the final day of the summer transfer window, which closed at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday. The 25-year-old midfielder was part of Argentina's squad that reached the 2026 World Cup final and had been linked with a move away from Chelsea for some time.
Manchester City confirmed the transfer via a video posted on the social media platform X. The fee matches the £125 million paid by Liverpool to Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer. Although the deal was reportedly agreed upon hours before the window closed, uncertainty arose as the deadline approached.
Fernandez expressed his feelings to Chelsea fans on Instagram prior to the transfer, 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 reflected on his time at Chelsea, mentioning the club's training ground and his desire to win trophies.
During his tenure at Chelsea, Fernandez contributed to the team's victory in the UEFA Conference League in 2025 and the FIFA Club World Cup that same year. City manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with Fernandez at Chelsea, played a significant role in facilitating the transfer following the sale of Rodri to Barcelona and the departures of other midfielders.
Fernandez will join England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in City's central midfield, which has seen an investment of over £300 million ($405.4 million). Upon completing the transfer, Fernandez stated, "Every player wants to be part of a club like this, because everyone knows how well-run City are. This is a club built for success."
Previously, Fernandez had transferred to Chelsea from Benfica for £106 million ($143.2 million) in 2023. He had expressed interest in joining Real Madrid last season, which led to his temporary exclusion from the team. He scored twice in Argentina's World Cup run, including a goal against England in the semifinals, but received a red card in the final match. City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, praised Fernandez, describing him as a complete midfielder with a strong mentality and professional quality.