Chelsea and Manchester City have agreed verbally to a €140 million transfer for Enzo Fernandez. There are no add-ons included in the sum mentioned between the two Premier League clubs. The 25-year-old Argentina international is now close to exiting Stamford Bridge before Tuesday’s 11 pm deadline.
The drawn-out negotiation has taken up the closing hours of the window, with the Blues repeatedly asking for £120 million for their vice-captain. Earlier this summer, Fernandez made it clear he wanted away. The desire was heightened by Chelsea’s failure to qualify for Europe by finishing 10th last season and the prospect of a reunion with Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder was notably absent from Xabi Alonso’s matchday squads for the Carabao Cup victory against Luton Town and the following Premier League fixture with Brighton.
If the deal goes through, it will be a stunning financial vindication for the West London hierarchy. Fernandez joined from Benfica in January 2023 for £106.8 million, a British record at the time. He lifted a Conference League and Club World Cup in 2025 while also becoming the club’s vice-captain. A valuation of €140 million would see him become the second most expensive footballer in the Premier League after Alexander Isak’s €145 million move to Liverpool.
For Manchester City, it is the result of an extraordinary overhaul of their engine room under Maresca, who took over from Pep Guardiola in the summer. They approved Rodri’s £65 million switch to Barcelona, Bernardo Silva’s free transfer to Real Madrid, and Nico Gonzalez’s £48 million move to Newcastle United. The Cityzens have already splashed out £116 million on Elliot Anderson and £86 million on teenage prospect Ayyoub Bouaddi. Fernandez would take that spending on midfielders to more than £320 million in one window.
Chelsea step up hunt for Enzo Fernandez replacement
Chelsea would still consider allowing the move, but only if they can find an adequate replacement before the window closes. The Blues have made a formal €45 million offer for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, but the Ligue 1 side have rejected the bid as too low.
The 22-year-old Senegal international joined the principality club from Metz in July 2024 for €15 million and is under contract until 2029. Monaco are believed to be holding out for between €55 million and €60 million including add-ons. The player himself is open to the idea of the proposed move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea had briefly turned their attention to Roma’s Manu Kone, with personal terms said to have been agreed before Gian Piero Gasperini stepped in to block the move. They hold a long-standing admiration for Adam Wharton, but Palace are not prepared to negotiate. The Blues have already spent close to £350 million on new players like Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Geovany Quenda. They now need to get their midfield business done quickly if they are to avoid being structurally weakened.