The Enzo Fernandez Man City transfer was completed on deadline day, Tuesday, 1 September 2026, with Manchester City paying Chelsea £125 million for the Argentina midfielder in a deal equalling the British record.
Fernandez, 25, signed a five-year deal at the Etihad Stadium after three and a half years at Chelsea, as reported by Sky Sports.
The fee matched the £125 million Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak on deadline day in 2025.
What did the Enzo Fernandez Man City transfer cost?
City paid £125 million, matching rather than breaking the British record set 12 months earlier. Chelsea signed Fernandez from Benfica in January 2023 for £107 million, itself a British record at the time, and made an £18 million profit.
Fernandez said after completing the move:
“Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.”
He continued:
“If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.”
How the Enzo Fernandez Man City transfer played out on deadline day
The deal ran to the final minutes of the English window, which closed at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday (00:00 SAST), meaning the deadline fell in the early hours of Wednesday, 2 September 2026 in South Africa. Chelsea spent those minutes trying to sign a replacement.
Monaco had agreed in writing to sell midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea for £47 million on a six-year deal, subject to a medical. Camara had been lined up as Fernandez’s direct replacement, and the French club withdrew before the deadline passed.
Monaco pulled out after their own sale of striker Folarin Balogun to Everton collapsed, with Balogun walking away from that move, and chose to keep Camara instead. Chelsea regarded the written withdrawal as extraordinary and deeply unprofessional conduct.
Where the Enzo Fernandez Man City transfer leaves Chelsea
Fernandez left Stamford Bridge after three and a half years, having arrived from Benfica as the most expensive signing in British football at the time. His spell in London began with a British record and ended with another.
Fernandez, in a farewell message posted to Chelsea supporters on Instagram:
“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.”
Chelsea began the season without the midfielder they signed for a British record in January 2023 and without the one lined up to replace him. The window does not reopen until January, leaving the club to cover the position from its existing squad.
