Manchester City have agreed to pay a joint-British record £125 million for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
The 25-year-old joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for a then-British record £107 million. His move to City matches the £125 million Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on transfer deadline day last summer.
The clubs reached an agreement following negotiations over the past 24 hours, with Fernandez now set to undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
Fernandez previously worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during the Italian’s time in charge at Chelsea. Maresca is keen to reunite with the Argentina international after City lost several midfielders this summer.
Fernandez was absent from Chelsea’s 4-3 Premier League victory over Brighton on Sunday and their 2-0 Carabao Cup win against Luton three days earlier.
Chelsea had set a deadline of 17:00 BST on August 14 for clubs to submit offers of at least £120 million as they sought to resolve Fernandez’s future before the 2026-27 season.
The transfer represents the second time City have broken their club record this summer, following the £116 million signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Fernandez becomes the fourth player to move to a Premier League club for at least £100 million this summer, following Morgan Rogers’ £117 million transfer to Chelsea, Bradley Barcola’s £123 million move to Liverpool and Anderson’s switch to City.
City have undergone significant changes in midfield, with Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez and Bernardo Silva all leaving the club this summer.
The champions have also sold Savio to Tottenham for £75 million and are due to receive a further £60 million when Omar Marmoush’s loan move becomes permanent next summer.
City have strengthened their squad with the signings of 18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86 million, Brazilian winger Allan Elias for £34 million, as well as Jeremy Monga and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Their spending could increase further, with Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye set to join after the clubs agreed a deal worth up to £65 million.
Chelsea had hoped to retain Fernandez but he had been pushing for a move since March. He had initially targeted Real Madrid, although the Spanish club later ruled out making an offer.
Fernandez’s departure will represent the second-biggest sale in Chelsea’s history, behind Eden Hazard’s 2019 move to Real Madrid.
The transfer is also expected to take Chelsea’s income from player sales beyond the Premier League record. Fernandez’s sale follows Nicolas Jackson’s £65 million move to Aston Villa and Liam Delap’s £50 million transfer to Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea’s summer sales are now expected to exceed £400 million, surpassing the previous record of about £300 million set by the club last season.
Chelsea have needed to reduce their squad after finishing 10th in the Premier League last season and missing out on European competition this campaign.
