Manchester City have completed the signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a joint British-record transfer fee of £125 million ($169 million). The 25-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Premier League champions, bringing an end to a summer-long transfer saga.
Fernandez’s transfer matches the British record set by Liverpool when they signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United for £125 million last year. The move also makes Fernandez the first player to have been transferred for more than £100 million on two separate occasions.
The Argentine joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for around £107 million, following his impressive performances during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning campaign. During his time at Stamford Bridge, Fernandez made a significant impact and helped Chelsea win the Conference League and Club World Cup.
The move to Manchester City will reunite Fernandez with Enzo Maresca, who previously worked with him at Chelsea and is now City’s manager. Maresca was reportedly keen to bring the midfielder to Manchester as City reshaped their squad following several midfield departures.
Fernandez said he was delighted to join City and eager to help the club continue winning trophies. He described Manchester City as a club built for success and said he was looking forward to learning from his new teammates and improving his game further.
His departure comes after a difficult final period at Chelsea. Fernandez had been pushing for an exit for several months and was left out of recent matchday squads. In an emotional farewell message, he thanked Chelsea’s players, staff and supporters, saying the club and its fans would always have a special place in his heart.
The timing of the transfer also created drama for Chelsea. The London club had been trying to sign Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara as Fernandez’s replacement, but that deal collapsed late in the transfer window. Despite losing their planned replacement, Chelsea ultimately honoured their agreement to sell Fernandez to City.
For Manchester City, the signing underlines their ambition to rebuild and strengthen their midfield. Fernandez joins a summer recruitment drive that has already seen the club make several major investments, with his £125 million transfer becoming the headline deal of the window.
The move is therefore significant for both clubs: City gain a proven Argentine international entering his prime, while Chelsea record another major player sale during a summer in which they have generated substantial transfer revenue. Fernandez now begins a new chapter at the Etihad Stadium, where expectations will be high from the outset.
