Fernandez transfers to Man City from Chelsea in joint British record fee

What the report says

Manchester City have signed Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a transfer that matches the British record fee, according to Al Jazeera. The deal was completed on deadline day at the end of the European summer window, with the reported fee set at £125 million ($169 million). City said the 25-year-old had joined after a move that went down to the closing minutes of the market.

Al Jazeera reported that Fernandez leaves Chelsea after two seasons in west London, where he had become a key figure after arriving from Benfica in 2023 for £106 million. He was part of Chelsea’s 2025 Europa Conference League and Club World Cup-winning squads, though the article noted he had recently fallen out with the club after signaling interest in Real Madrid last season.

The move comes as City continue reshaping their midfield following several departures and the sale of Rodri to Barcelona, according to the report. City director of football Hugo Viana praised Fernandez’s technical quality and experience, while the player said he wanted to learn from his new teammates and help a club he described as built for success.

Fernandez’s profile has risen further through international football: he featured in Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup final and scored in the semifinal before being sent off in the final. The transfer is significant because it reinforces City’s spending power and adds another major name to their rebuilt squad amid a busy deadline day in European football.