‘I could not be happier’: Enzo Fernandez joins Man City in joint-British-record fee
Manchester City have equalled the British transfer record by signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for £125m.
The Argentina midfielder has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium as City took their summer spending to around £435m, more than £325m of it on midfielders.
Chelsea countenanced the sale of Fernandez, who cost them £107m in 2023, even though their attempt to bring in Lamine Camara from Monaco broke down when the Ligue 1 club pulled out of the £47m deal.
Fernandez, who joins Alexander Isak as the joint biggest buy a Premier League club has ever made, said: “Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are.
“I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.
“If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new team-mates and become a better player.
“I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.”
Fernandez played for new City manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, winning the Club World Cup together, and they have been reunited.
He joins the £116m signing Elliot Anderson and the £85m buy Ayyoub Bouaddi in a new-look midfield after the departures of Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.
City director of football Hugo Viana said: “At Manchester City, we are always looking to bring in world-class players and Enzo fits the bill.
“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer. He is adept at playing different styles of football. He is comfortable playing a possession-based game, and he can play on the counter effectively, too.
“To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything you need to know about his mentality, professionalism and technical quality. We are delighted to bring him here and feel very strongly he will improve our team.”
City had already signed Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for £60m earlier on deadline day and had pursued Fernandez all summer.
Chelsea had tried to set a deadline of 5pm on 14 August for clubs to bid for Fernandez as they tried to get his future resolved but City left it until the last day of the window before bidding.
The Argentinian, whose last start came when he was sent off in the World Cup final, had sat out Chelsea’s last two games as he has looked for a move after being booed by both sets of fans on what could prove his last appearance for them, the 3-2 win over Fulham.
Fernandez nevertheless posted a farewell to Chelsea on Instagram in which he wrote: “These have not been easy days for me. Chelsea will always have a place in my thoughts and my heart.”
Chelsea brought in around £400m in sales in the summer transfer window, with other departures including Marc Cucurella, Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Tosin Adarabioyo, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Guiu while they also received compensation from City for Maresca.
