Enzo Fernandez transfer news: Manchester City agree £125m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder on Deadline Day
Enzo Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica for £107m in 2023; the Argentine played in Chelsea's first Premier League game of the season against Fulham but was not involved against Luton in the Carabao Cup and left out again when they faced Brighton
Tuesday 1 September 2026 23:25, UK
Manchester City have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernandez for £125m.
The deal matches the British record transfer fee Liverpool paid for Newcastle striker Alexander Isak during last year's summer Deadline Day.
Chelsea will make an £18m profit on the midfielder they signed for £107m three-and-a-half years ago.
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Fernandez made it clear he wanted a move to City where he will be reunited with his former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca. The player will now take a medical and finalise his move to City.
Chelsea had hoped to replace Fernandez with Monaco's Lamine Camara. But after initially agreeing a £47m fee for the Senegalese midfielder, Monaco reneged on the deal after renegotiating the sale of Folarin Balogun to Everton.
Fernandez posts Chelsea farewell message
Enzo Fernandez posted on Instagram:
"I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven't been in a good place.
"Three years ago, Cobham and Stamford Bridge became home for me and my family. I grew attached to the people, to the shirt, and to the badge of this incredible club.
"Believe me when I say that, from the moment I arrived, I became obsessed with winning and with bringing this club every trophy that its history deserves. We suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories. Together, through the good times and the difficult ones.
"I live football the same way I live my life: with passion and with all my heart. That is why I want you to know that I understand you. I truly understand you, from the bottom of my heart.
"But life is about making decisions, and right now I find myself having to make one of those difficult decisions. I've said it before, but I want to say it again: I have grown incredibly fond of this club. Chelsea will always have a place in my thoughts and, above all, in my heart.
"But I also understand how football works. I know how passionate you are, because I am the same. And if I were in your position, I would probably be thinking the same way.
"I want to thank every single one of you: the staff, the coaching team, the medical team, the physios, and everyone who works at Cobham and throughout this great institution.
"To all my teammates over these years, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing so many moments with me. I was truly happy here, and I wish you nothing but the very best for the future.
"Thank you for all the love and support you have given me and my family throughout these years. I will never forget it.
"This group will give you many more reasons to be happy, and I will be happy for you too. Never doubt that.
"You will always be in my heart, Blues. I will always wish you, always, nothing but the very best.
"Always Blue.
"Thank you, Chelsea. 💙
"Enzo."
Chelsea and Man City the biggest spenders and sellers
As things stand, Chelsea have been the Premier League's biggest spenders and Manchester City have been the Premier League's biggest sellers in this window.
The deal for Fernandez will see the two clubs swap places in terms of the spending and selling rankings.
Chelsea will have made £415m from player sales alone in this window, which surpasses their own record set last summer (£314m).
It is higher if you include the £17m compensation they received from City for Maresca. Chelsea have spent £342m on signings, which means they are currently in profit of £73m for the window.
Meanwhile, City's spending is set to hit £375m with the arrival of Fernandez. They have generated nearly £315m from player sales, leaving them with a net spend of £60m in this window.
Carragher: Man City now Arsenal's closest challengers
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"Myself and plenty of others have felt Chelsea will have a really good season. And I still believe that a lot of that is on the back of not having European football, having a new manager, the front three that they've got.
"But they're losing Enzo Fernandez, who, for me has been one of the big players for Chelsea.
"Manchester City look a lot stronger now. I would say they're going to be the biggest challenges to Arsenal right now.
"It is a really good squad. There's no doubt about that. There's been a lot of turnover. Losing Rodri was a big thing and I thought it would be really difficult to recover from that.
"But if you said at the end of last season, they would bring in Elliot Anderson and Enzo Fernandez, you'd say, that's a top midfield. They've paid top dollar for it, so it should be.
"That gives them the greatest chance of being the main challengers and maybe the only team who can really wrestle this title from Arsenal."
Redknapp: This is a loss for Chelsea
Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:
"Enzo Fernandez definitely wins. His agent wins because he's had two incredible moves.
"What Chelsea are trying to create is a culture and if a player doesn't want to be there, you've got to let them go.
"It feels that it might be the right thing to do. He wants to go work for his previous boss and you're going to get good money in. Some people will say to just keep him but if he doesn't want to be there, then it becomes very difficult."
