Man City agree record deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez

1 Sept 2026 16:50 BST | 3 min read

Tom Weber | Writer

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Manchester City have finally reached an agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of Enzo Fernandez.

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The Argentina international had to wait all summer, but he is now set to make his move at last. Fernandez has been pushing to leave Chelsea since the latter stages of last season and was initially gunning for a transfer to Real Madrid.

However, Los Blancos made it clear early on in the summer that they would not pursue the signing of the 25-year-old, which opened the door for his former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to chase a deal after his appointment at Man City.

Current ETV

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

Enzo Fernández

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€75M - €91.7M

Following weeks of back and forth, the two clubs have now struck a huge Deadline Day deal, with Man City agreeing to shell out an eye-watering €145 million in order to sign the midfielder, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic, thus matching Liverpool's Premier League-record outlay for Alexander Isak.

Once Fernandez completes his medical, he will officially become Man City's third major reinforcement for their engine room after Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, who have arrived for €135m and €95m, respectively.

The summer's longest saga concludes

With Fernandez now on his way to Man City, the summer's most drawn-out transfer saga will officially conclude - and all parties should be content with the outcome, even Chelsea.

Of course, the Blues lose one of their most important players, but they, incredibly, made a profit on someone they paid €123m. What's more, there was no obvious place for Fernandez in Xabi Alonso's new-look side.

Although the player didn't get his dream move to Real Madrid, he is joining a club that always plays Champions League football and challenges for the biggest honours - two of his main gripes with Chelsea, who are not in Europe at all this season.

Man City, meanwhile, will be delighted to get a player of Fernandez's quality and someone who has a proven track record of excelling under new head coach Maresca. The Argentine completes the Etihad club's midfield rebuild.

With Bouaddi at the base, Anderson pinging passes and Fernandez driving forward, City should, on paper, boast one of the most impressive midfields in world football.

Despite the hefty outlay on Bouaddi and Anderson, another body in that area of the pitch was desperately needed, as Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez have all departed.

Fernandez's relationship with Chelsea soured towards the end of his spell, but this is a transfer that should ultimately leave everyone satisfied.