Xabi Alonso has publicly discussed the £125m transfer of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City for the first time, describing the sale as a collective judgement rather than one made unilaterally. In his pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of the Premier League trip to Arsenal, the Chelsea boss was repeatedly quizzed on the Argentine’s exit.
Fernandez made his long-awaited move to the Etihad Stadium on deadline day, signing a five-year deal in a transfer that matched the British record fee Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last summer. The Blues signed him from Benfica for £107m in February 2023, and the West London club subsequently made a modest profit on a midfielder who featured just once this season before being left out against Luton Town and Brighton.
When asked about why such a consequential exit was allowed, Alonso said:
“We take all the decisions together. We work together with everything, big decisions, small ones. The last goal is ultimately to be the best for the team. We want to build a good spirit, a good team.”
When asked whether the split had become inevitable, the Spaniard added:
“In football, many things happen. You need to be prepared for everything. We had conversations with Enzo but with respect. We are thankful for what he has done for the club. But we need to move on.”
Chelsea’s Midfield Resources Need Immediate Examination
Fernandez’s departure was not immediately replaced, and the middle of the squad has noticeably thinned. A bid for Monaco’s Lamine Camara was ultimately turned down right on the cusp of deadline day. The clubs had a written agreement; Camara had completed his medical and agreed to a six-year deal; and Monaco then reneged. Meanwhile, Roma remained steadfast in their refusal to discuss Manu Kone before the window closed.
Therefore, Alonso only has Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson, and the utility man Reece James. The big worry is the fitness of Caicedo, with the Ecuador captain missing the opening two games against Fulham and Luton and limping off after coming on in the win over Brighton.
The 24-year-old remains a real doubt for the trip to north London, and Alonso would not give any concrete guarantee of his availability. Meanwhile, Henderson is edging toward real involvement after his free transfer from Brentford.