Chelsea made a surprising choice in the last moments of the Enzo Fernandez transfer story.
Chelsea made a surprising move with Enzo Fernandez right at the end of transfer deadline day, as he completed a £125 million transfer to Manchester City. Fernandez had been City’s top midfield target all summer, but the deal dragged on until the very last moment.
City first offered £104 million plus add-ons, but Chelsea said their price had jumped to £135 million. Finally, the Blues agreed to a fixed £125 million fee, and the deal was done—Fernandez signed a five-year contract and reunited with Enzo Maresca.
However, the transfer wasn’t without hiccups. Chelsea had the option to cancel the deal because they wanted a replacement. They agreed on Monaco’s Lamine Camara with a £47 million bid, and Camara even passed his medical and signed a six-year contract. But then, Monaco unexpectedly backed out, which Chelsea felt was very unprofessional.
According to reporter Ben Jacobs, Liverpool contacted Camara’s team, asking them to hold off for a possible move in 2027. This twist might have affected Chelsea’s decision on Fernandez. They could have stopped the transfer but chose to honor their promise to both City and Fernandez, even without a replacement ready.
Chelsea’s midfield now looks a bit thin, even after signing Jordan Henderson and Valentin Barco this summer. Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, and captain Reece James are likely to fill central roles, though full-back Malo Gusto also played midfield in their 4-3 win over Brighton.
Fernandez, who wasn’t included in Chelsea’s squad, had told the club he wanted to leave three months ago. Though an earlier deadline passed, City and Chelsea managed to finalize the move. Chelsea made an £18 million profit on the player they bought from Benfica for £106.8 million in February 2023.
Excited about joining City, World Cup winner Fernandez shared on the club’s website: “Manchester City are the most successful club in England lately. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I couldn’t be happier to be here and I’m ready to help City keep winning trophies. This club is built for success.
“If you look at the team, City have quality everywhere. I want to learn from my new teammates and improve as a player. I work hard every day and give my all in matches. I promise to keep doing that at Manchester City.
“I want to thank Hugo, Enzo, Khaldoon, and everyone at City who made this deal happen. I’m grateful for their faith in me and can’t wait to repay it.”