Enzo Fernandez Set For Shock Chelsea Exit As Man City Seal £125m Mega Deal

Manchester City have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a joint-British record fee of £125 million.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the deal was concluded on Tuesday, September 1, after more than 24 hours of negotiations between the two Premier League clubs. Fernandez is now expected to undergo a medical before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium.

Personal terms are reportedly not expected to pose any difficulty, with the transfer fee matching the £125 million Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. Fernandez had joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for £107 million, which was then a British-record transfer fee.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is understood to have played a major role in pushing for the midfielder’s arrival, having previously worked with Fernandez during his time at Chelsea.

The move comes as City seek to rebuild their midfield following the departures of several important players during the summer transfer window. Tijjani Reijnders moved to Al-Qadsiah for £52 million, while Rodri joined Barcelona for £65 million and Nico Gonzalez completed a £52 million transfer to Newcastle United. Bernardo Silva also departed the club after joining Real Madrid as a free agent.

Fernandez was absent from Chelsea’s squad for their recent Premier League victory over Brighton and their Carabao Cup win against Luton, amid reports that the midfielder had expressed a desire to leave the club.

His proposed transfer would represent Manchester City’s second club-record signing of the summer, following the £116 million acquisition of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.

Fernandez would also become the latest Premier League player to command a transfer fee of at least £100 million this summer, joining the likes of Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola and Anderson among the league’s biggest-money transfers.

Chelsea had initially hoped to retain Fernandez, but the midfielder had reportedly been seeking a move away from Stamford Bridge since March. His preferred destination was initially Real Madrid, although the Spanish giants ultimately decided against making an offer.

Fernandez’s departure, combined with Nicolas Jackson’s £65 million transfer to Aston Villa and Liam Delap’s £50 million move to Nottingham Forest, is expected to push Chelsea’s summer transfer sales beyond £400 million.

The significant player sales form part of Chelsea’s ongoing efforts to reduce the size of their squad following a disappointing Premier League campaign in which the club finished 10th.