Man City agree £125m fee for Chelsea's Fernandez
September 1, 2026 15:55
Manchester City have agreed a £125m fee with Chelsea for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, a sum that equals the joint-British transfer record. The clubs concluded negotiations after around 24 hours and Fernandez is set to have a medical before signing a long-term contract with City; the report states personal terms are expected to be straightforward.
Fernandez, who moved to Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107m and has won 49 caps for Argentina, previously worked under Enzo Maresca during the coach’s spell at Chelsea. He missed Chelsea’s recent matches against Luton and Brighton; Argentine reports suggested he asked not to be included in those squads.
KEY CONTEXT
- The £125m fee matches the amount Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer and is a joint-British record.
- City have been active in the market this summer: they previously spent a club-record £116m on Elliot Anderson and have signed several players including Ayoub Bouaddi (£86m), Allan Elias (£34m), Jeremy Monga and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
- Manchester City have also sold a number of midfielders this window (Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva) and moved other players such as Savio and Omar Marmoush; Chelsea have been selling heavily too, with Fernandez’s exit the club’s second-biggest sale after Eden Hazard.
- Chelsea have been trimming their squad after a 10th-place Premier League finish and absence from European competition; the club’s summer sales are expected to exceed £400m, a new record for player-sale income.
WHY IT MATTERS
- The fee reinforces how much clubs are spending on central midfield talent and continues this summer’s trend of seven-figure transfers within the Premier League market.
- For City, acquiring Fernandez follows a significant midfield turnover and signals manager Enzo Maresca’s desire to reunite with a player he coached at Chelsea.
- For Chelsea, the sale is a major piece of their summer financial restructuring and contributes to what is reported to be a record-breaking total from player sales.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Fernandez must pass a medical and complete paperwork before the transfer is officially confirmed.
- Monitor official confirmations from both clubs about the completed deal and any formal announcements about contract length and terms.
- Keep an eye on related City business still in progress, including the potential Iliman Ndiaye move from Everton (reported as a deal worth up to £65m) and the squad adjustments following numerous departures.
KEY FACTS
- Agreed fee: £125m, a joint-British transfer record.
- Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107m and has 49 Argentina caps.
- He is due to have a medical before signing a long-term deal at Manchester City.
- City have already spent a summer-record £116m on Elliot Anderson among other signings.
- Chelsea’s summer sales, including Fernandez, Jackson and Delap, are reported to be worth over £400m.