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Why Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea

28 May 2026 17:02 BST | 5 min read

Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea

Cameron Smith

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea this summer and he is one of several stars who could depart Stamford Bridge before the start of the 2026-27 season, despite the appointment of Xabi Alonso as their new manager.

The Argentina international, who is currently Chelsea’s vice-captain, hinted that he would like to secure a summer transfer away from west London back in March, and rumours of an exit have ramped up over the past few weeks.

It’s understood that Fernandez is keen to join Real Madrid when the 2026 summer transfer window opens, with Los Blancos eager to finalise a deal if possible, while Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City have also been touted as possible destinations for the 25-year-old.

Fernandez scored 15 goals and provided seven assists in 54 games for Chelsea this season, and he appeared to wave goodbye to the Blues supporters following their 2-1 defeat to Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League campaign.

Reports have suggested that he may never play for Chelsea again and rumours regarding a high-profile transfer are likely to intensify following his participation at the upcoming World Cup as Argentina look to defend their crown.

Why does Enzo Fernandez want to leave Chelsea?

The Spanish press have linked Fernandez with a move to Real Madrid ever since he joined Chelsea, but the Argentine first speculated that he could be open to a summer transfer following the Blues’ 8-2 aggregate defeat to PSG in the Champions League last-16 in March.

Chelsea had beaten the reigning European champions in the Club World Cup final eight months earlier, however they were ultimately torn apart by Luis Enrique’s side, despite the tie being level at 2-2 after 73 minutes of the first-leg.

Enzo Fernandez wants to leave Chelsea

During the clash at the Parc des Princes, Fernandez was seen berating goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen for his decision-making when passing out from the back, and this has been a common theme throughout this season.

After the second-leg defeat, Fernandez then hinted that an exit could be on the cards this summer, while he added further fuel to the fire by admitting his love for Madrid during the March international break.

Fernandez is now 25 years old and while he certainly isn’t old, he is approaching his prime and he has ambitions of winning the biggest club trophies on offer. Ultimately, he doesn’t believe that Chelsea share the same goals.

The Blues have prioritised signing young players under the BlueCo ownership and they quite clearly lack the experience needed to regularly compete at the sharp end of the Premier League and Champions League. While they claim this will change over the summer, there is little evidence to back this up, with a deal for Strasbourg midfielder Valentin Barco recently being agreed.

Furthermore, the gap in quality between Chelsea’s first-choice starters and their back-up players is stark, and Fernandez understandably feels as though he deserves to play for a club built on a winning formula.

Chelsea will not play in any European competition next season and although Alonso could feasibly guide them back into the Champions League for 2027-28, Fernandez wants to play in the competition during the upcoming season, which is something his current club can’t offer him.

Ultimately, Fernandez wants to win now and given Chelsea have finished 12th, sixth, fourth and 10th in four Premier League seasons under BlueCo, he doesn’t believe that remaining at Stamford Bridge will give him the best chance of achieving his career ambitions.

Real Madrid are eager to sign Enzo Fernandez this summer

How much is Enzo Fernandez worth?

Chelsea paid a whopping €121m to sign Fernandez from Benfica back in January 2023, but it’s reported that a fee close to €140m (£120m) will be required to lure him away from Stamford Bridge this summer" href="https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/05/chelsea-transfer-news-enzo-fernandez-real-madrid-talks-opened" target="_blank">but it’s reported that a fee close to €140m (£120m) will be required to lure him away from Stamford Bridge this summer.

The Blues are reluctant to lose the Argentina international and they have therefore set a steep asking price in a bid to deter any suitors who don’t have the financial means to complete a deal.

While Fernandez has been an impressive performer for Chelsea since his arrival in west London, his asking price is far greater than his current valuation.

In fact, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) - which takes into account player age, player position, player performance, player experience, league strength and contract situation - stands at €91.3m. Therefore, it’s clear that Chelsea are demanding a fee that interested clubs should be wary of paying.