Manchester City Agree £125m Deal for Chelsea Midfielder Enzo Fernandez
Manchester City have agreed a £125 million deal with Chelsea for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, in a move that will match the joint-British transfer record.
Fernandez, who joined Chelsea from Benfica for a then-British record £107 million in 2023, is now set to undergo a medical before completing a long-term move to the Etihad Stadium.
The agreement comes after intensive negotiations between the two Premier League clubs over the past 24 hours.
Personal terms are not expected to present a problem, with Fernandez already familiar with City manager Enzo Maresca from their time together at Chelsea.
Maresca reunion behind City’s move
Maresca is understood to be keen to work with Fernandez again as Manchester City reshape their midfield following a busy summer of departures.
The club have lost several experienced midfielders during the transfer window, including Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva.
That has created a significant gap in City’s midfield and increased the need for another high-level option.
Fernandez fits that requirement, bringing Premier League experience, international pedigree and previous success in European football.
His arrival would also reunite him with Maresca, who worked with the Argentine during his spell in charge at Chelsea.
Chelsea absence adds to transfer speculation
Fernandez was not involved in Chelsea’s recent matches against Brighton and Luton.
He was left out of the squad for Sunday’s 4-3 Premier League victory over Brighton, as well as Chelsea’s 2-0 Carabao Cup win against Luton three days earlier.
Reports from Argentina had suggested that the midfielder had asked not to be included in the squad amid the developing transfer situation.
The agreement with City now puts Fernandez on the verge of another major move, just three years after Chelsea made him the most expensive British transfer at the time.
City break their transfer record again
The deal represents another huge investment from Manchester City.
The club had already broken their own transfer record this summer with the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Fernandez’s proposed £125 million transfer would therefore take City’s spending to another level during a summer of significant squad reconstruction.
It also makes Fernandez one of several players to move to a Premier League club for at least £100 million during the current transfer window.
Other major deals include Morgan Rogers’ £117 million move to Chelsea and Bradley Barcola’s reported £123 million transfer to Liverpool, alongside City’s own deal for Anderson.
Major midfield overhaul at City
City’s pursuit of Fernandez comes after a substantial turnover in Pep Guardiola’s midfield.
Reijnders moved to Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah for £52 million, while Rodri joined Barcelona for £65 million.
Nico Gonzalez moved to Newcastle for £52 million, while Bernardo Silva left City before joining Real Madrid as a free agent.
The club have responded with several additions, including highly rated 18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86 million.
Brazilian winger Allan Elias has also arrived for £34 million, while Jeremy Monga and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli have joined for undisclosed or lower fees.
City’s summer business could continue even after the Fernandez deal, with Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye also set to join after the clubs agreed a deal worth up to £65 million.
What Fernandez could bring
Fernandez would give City another technically gifted midfielder capable of operating in a high-pressure Premier League environment.
His experience with Chelsea and Argentina means he would not be arriving as an untested prospect. Instead, City would be investing heavily in a player who has already competed at the highest level of international and club football.
For Chelsea, meanwhile, the sale would bring a substantial return on one of the biggest investments in the club’s recent history.
For Manchester City, the immediate focus will be completing Fernandez’s medical and finalising the paperwork before the transfer deadline.
If completed, the move will underline the scale of City’s summer rebuild — and once again push the financial boundaries of the Premier League transfer market.
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