Enzo Fernandez has completed a move to Manchester City for a joint British record fee

Manchester City have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a joint British record fee of £125m. The Argentina international has become City’s latest major signing in the summer as the club spent heavily on rebuilding their squad.

Fernandez’s move matches the British record when Liverpool signed Alexander Isak for £125m last summer. It also means City’s spending in the current window stands at a Premier League record £458m, although they have generated around £300m from player sales.

The 25-year-old joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107million, then a British record, but his time at Stamford Bridge is now over after he tried to leave. Fernandez was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid at the start of the summer, although the Spanish giants ultimately rejected the offer.

The midfielder was booed by Chelsea fans during a friendly against Real Sociedad and again during the Premier League opener at Fulham. He was subsequently left out of the wins over Luton and Brighton, while Fernandez admitted in an open letter that his final days at the club had been difficult.

“I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me,” Fernandez wrote on Instagram. “The truth is, I wasn’t in a good place.

Thanking Chelsea for his time at the club, Fernandez said the decision to leave was difficult, adding that the club would “always be in my heart”. He is now reunited with Enzo Maresca, who worked with him during his time as Chelsea manager.

MANCHESTER CITY BREAK THE BANK

Fernandez becomes the second player City have signed for more than £100m this summer, following the £116m arrival of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in July.

Maresca was keen to work with Fernandez again after City lost several midfielders this summer, including Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri and Nico Gonzalez. His arrival gives City another high-level option in midfield as they look to fight on multiple fronts.

“I couldn’t be happier to be here and I’m ready for the challenge of helping City continue to win trophies,” Fernandez told the club’s website. “This is a club built for success.

City also signed 18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86m and Brazilian winger Allan Elias for £34m, along with Jeremy Monga and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

Their spending could rise again, with Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye set to seal a deal worth up to £65million.

CHELSEA’S SALES GROWTH

Fernandez’s departure adds to Chelsea’s extraordinary summer of player sales. Nicolas Jackson joined Aston Villa for £65m while Liam Delap moved to Nottingham Forest for £50m.

Chelsea’s total transfer income is expected to exceed £400m, comfortably beating the previous Premier League record of £300m set by the club last season.

Fernandez’s move is Chelsea’s second biggest sale, behind Eden Hazard’s 2019 move to Real Madrid. The record deal for City, meanwhile, underlines their ambitions to rebuild quickly and remain competitive for major honours.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

02 Sep 2026 07:09 IST