Meknes – Manchester City have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a joint-British record fee of $168.9 million.
According to BBC Sports, the 25-year-old Argentine is now set to finalize his move to the Etihad Stadium after the two clubs concluded negotiations on deadline day.
Fernandez originally arrived at Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for a then-record $144.5 million. His current $168.9 million move now equals the British transfer record set when Liverpool signed Alexander Isak on deadline day last summer.
Following 24 hours of intensive negotiations, both clubs finalized the deal to complete the transfer.
The midfielder is set to complete his medical examination before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract with City, with personal terms already expected to be a formality.
The move will see the Argentina international reunite with City manager Enzo Maresca, who previously coached Fernandez during his managerial spell at Chelsea.
The deal makes Fernandez the fourth player to join a Premier League side in a $135m-plus transfer this summer, joining Morgan Rogers’ $158 million switch to Chelsea, Bradley Barcola’s $166 million move to Liverpool, and City’s earlier $156.7 million acquisition of Elliot Anderson.
According to the same source, Chelsea initially aimed to keep the Argentine midfielder, but Fernandez remained firm in his desire to leave Stamford Bridge after pushing for an exit since March.
The midfielder had set his sights on a move to Real Madrid, but the Spanish giants ended speculation by releasing an official statement ruling out a bid.
The transfer stands as Chelsea’s second-largest sale on record, trailing only Eden Hazard’s 2019 move to Real Madrid.
The departure also positions the London club to break the Premier League record for total revenue generated from player sales.
