Man City agree £125m for Fernandez on deadline day

Manchester City have agreed to pay £125 million to Chelsea for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, according to BBC Sport reporting on September 1, 2026. The fee matches the joint-British transfer record set by Liverpool when they paid Newcastle United the same amount for Alexander Isak on the 2025 deadline day.

Fernandez, 25 years old and a midfielder with 49 caps for Argentina, joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a then-British record fee of £107 million. He becomes the first player in history to transfer for more than £100 million twice.

The midfielder will undergo a medical and sign a long-term deal at City. According to BBC Sport, personal terms present no obstacle to the deal. Fernandez previously worked with City manager Enzo Maresca during Maresca's tenure at Chelsea, and Maresca is keen to reunite with the player following the departure of multiple midfielders from City's squad this summer.

Fernandez was not included in Chelsea's squad for their 4-3 Premier League victory over Brighton on Sunday or their 2-0 Carabao Cup win against Luton three days prior. Reports from Argentina suggested Fernandez requested to be left out of the squad, per BBC Sport.

The transfer marks the second time this summer City have broken their own transfer record. Elliott Anderson arrived from Nottingham Forest earlier in the window for £116 million. Fernandez becomes the fourth player to move to a Premier League club for at least £100 million this summer, following Morgan Rogers (£117 million to Chelsea), Bradley Barcola (£123 million to Liverpool), and Anderson. The agreement came with the 11 p.m. BST deadline fast approaching, according to Yahoo Sports.