Man City splash £125m on Fernandez as Premier League spending hits record £3.1b

On deadline day, Premier League clubs set a new record of £3.1 billion in transfer fees, with Manchester City leading the frenzy. The cash-strapped club spent £125 million on Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, shattering the transfer record previously held by Liverpool. Fernandez, who enjoyed success under City's former manager Maresca at Chelsea, joins a revamped City midfield containing England's Elliot Anderson and Morocco's Ayyoub Bouaddi.

To boost their attacking options, City also signed Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye for £65 million, keeping their Premier League title ambitions alive. Meanwhile, Chelsea's attempt to sign Lamine Camara from Monaco was thwarted, while Arsenal secured Gabriel Jesus from Atalanta on a £40 million deal. Liverpool managed to sign French forward Bradley Barcola for £123 million, but their pursuit of Crystal Palace's Ismaila Sarr and Brighton's Yankuba Minteh fell through.

Liverpool's 18-year-old goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans was loaned back to Genk for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Aston Villa strengthened their defense by signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton for £29 million. Tottenham, still seeking to bolster their squad, secured a loan deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea.

Newcastle's rebuilding efforts were aided by the signing of Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for £51 million.