Transfer: Man City agree £125m deal to sign Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea

Manchester City has reached an agreement to pay a transfer record fee of £125 million for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine international joined Chelsea from Benfica in 2023 for a British record fee of £107 million. City and Chelsea have been discussing the transfer over the past 24 hours and have finally agreed on the fee.

Fernandez will undergo a medical before signing a long-term deal with the Premier League champions. Personal terms are not a concern for the deal. The Argentine player has previously worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during the Italian's tenure at Chelsea, and Maresca is eager to work with Fernandez again after losing several midfielders this summer.

Fernandez was absent from Chelsea's recent matches due to reports suggesting he requested a leave of absence, but he now joins a growing list of high-profile signings for City this summer. The club has broken its own transfer record twice, first by signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million and now with Fernandez's £125 million move.

Fernandez is the fourth player to be transferred for at least £100 million in the current summer, joining Morgan Rogers, Bradley Barcola, and Anderson. Four midfielders have left City this summer, including Tijjani Reijnders, Rodri, Nico Gonzalez, and Bernardo Silva, who moved to Real Madrid. City have also sold Savio to Tottenham for £75 million and will receive £60 million from the sale next summer when Omar Marmoush's loan move becomes permanent.

The club has further strengthened their squad by signing 18-year-old midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille for £86 million, Brazilian winger Allan Elias for £34 million, and winger Jeremy Monga and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli for smaller fees. Their total summer spending may increase further with the addition of Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye for up to £65 million.