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City lands Enzo Fernández
Manchester City agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández for a joint-British transfer record fee of £125m, with the clubs having negotiated over the past 24 hours before reaching an agreement.
“Manchester City have agreed to pay a joint-British transfer record fee of £125m for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez.”
The BBC said Fernández, 25, will undergo a medical ahead of signing a long-term deal at City, and that personal terms will not be an issue.
The BBC also reported that Fernández worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during the Italian’s reign at Chelsea, and that Maresca is keen to work with him again after losing a host of midfielders this summer.
In parallel, Al-Khaleej said City announced it had signed Fernández from Chelsea to a five-year deal in a package valued at £125 million ($167 million), matching the British record in transfer fees.
Al-Khaleej added that City’s new Italian manager Enzo Maresca played a major role in completing the signing after City lost World Cup-winning midfielder Rodri to Barcelona, alongside departures including Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalo, and Tijani Reinders.
Deadline-day pressure and praise
Akhbar 24 said the deal was expected to equal the record for the most expensive transfer in Premier League history at 125 million pounds, and it cited The Athletic reporting that Chelsea gave Fernández the green light to undergo medical examinations.
Akhbar 24 also said the clubs faced time pressure to complete remaining procedures before the summer transfer window closes later on Tuesday, with the report placing the agreement at 17:10 on September 1, 2026.
In City’s statement, Al-Khaleej quoted Fernández saying, “Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows City’s good management. It’s a club built to win.”
Al-Khaleej further quoted City sporting director Hugo Viana describing Fernández as “a complete midfielder: highly technical, hardworking, tough, and capable of scoring,” and added that “To play in a World Cup final twice and win major titles in several countries at only 25 summarizes everything you need to know about his mindset, professionalism, and technical quality.”
The BBC reported Fernández was not involved in Chelsea’s 4-3 Premier League win over Brighton on Sunday or their 2-0 Carabao Cup victory against Luton three days earlier, after reports in Argentina suggested he asked to be left out of the squad.
What the move changes
The transfer is framed as a major reshaping of Manchester City’s midfield, with the BBC saying the club’s squad overhaul included a fully revamped midfield “to the tune of £458m,” a new Premier League record for a summer window.
“Manchester City have completed their squad overhaul - including a fully revamped midfield - to the tune of £458m”
The BBC reported that the £125m spent on Maresca’s former Chelsea skipper Enzo Fernandez came after £116m was committed on Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest, and that Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, was brought in for £86m.
The BBC also listed departures from the Etihad Stadium including captain Bernardo Silva, Rodri, Tijjani Reijnders, and Nico Gonzalez, while noting that City have also sold Savio to Tottenham for £75m and will receive £60m next summer when Omar Marmoush’s loan move is made permanent.
In addition, Al-Khaleej said City’s midfield reshaped at a cost exceeding £300 million, and it described Fernández as set to play alongside English international Kalvin Phillips and newly arrived Moroccan Yaïb Boouladi (Aubay Boouadi).
Looking beyond City, The Guardian said European fashion retailers including the German retailer Hessen and the Dutch chain BrandBox faced fresh questions after a fire at a factory that supplied them killed at least 33 garment workers in Bangladesh, underscoring how the same news cycle can carry both football spending and other high-stakes developments.