Deadlines, acrimony and a record as Man City back Maresca for Fernandez deal

What the report says

Manchester City have completed a £125m move for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to BBC Sport Football, in a deal that ends a long-running summer transfer saga and sets a joint-British record fee. The transfer was finalised late in the window after City and Chelsea worked through a series of deadlines, valuation gaps and uncertainty around Chelsea’s plans for a replacement.

BBC Sport reported that manager Enzo Maresca was central to City’s pursuit of the Argentina international. Maresca had previously worked with Fernandez at Chelsea and viewed him as a player who already understands his tactical demands. The report also says City were looking to add experience and leadership to a midfield that had been weakened by several departures this summer. Fernandez, 25, had already won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and had become a high-profile figure after joining Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for more than £100m.

For Chelsea, the sale adds to a summer in which they have raised substantial money through player departures. The BBC said the club initially set a valuation of £120m, later held out for more, before accepting City’s £125m offer. Chelsea had also explored bringing in a replacement, but a late move fell through when another deal in the market changed.

The move matters because it underlines City’s willingness to spend heavily for a manager they have backed strongly, while also reinforcing the Premier League’s continued escalation in transfer fees. It also makes Fernandez the first player in football history to move for more than £100m twice, as described by BBC Sport.