Manchester City have reportedly agreed a staggering £125 million deal to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea, a move that sets a new benchmark for a player in his position. The agreement, reached at the “eleventh hour” after a deadline set by Chelsea had passed, marks a significant statement of intent from the reigning champions as they embark on a new era under manager Enzo Maresca.
The total package for the Argentine World Cup winner makes him the most expensive midfielder in football history. Fernandez is now poised to reunite with Maresca, who is understood to have actively pushed for the transfer, having previously worked with the 25-year-old at Stamford Bridge.
Maresca’s rebuild continues
The acquisition of Fernandez is the latest and most significant move in a busy summer of squad reconstruction for Manchester City under their new manager. Maresca’s arrival has prompted a substantial overhaul, with numerous key players departing the Etihad Stadium. Among those who have left this summer are:
- James Trafford
- Nathan Ake
- John Stones
- Bernardo Silva
- Kalvin Phillips
- Rodri
- Tijani Reijnders
- Savinho
- Nico Gonzalez
- Omar Marmoush
In addition to Fernandez, City have also brought in several other high-profile recruits to bolster their ranks. These include Elliot Anderson for £116 million, Allan Elias from Palmeiras, Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, and Illiman Ndiaye, who joined for £65 million from Everton.
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Fernandez’s enhanced role and potential debut
Maresca’s prior experience with Fernandez at Chelsea is believed to be a key factor in the transfer. During their time together at Stamford Bridge, Maresca reportedly deployed Fernandez in a more advanced role, which seemingly brought out the best in the midfielder. This tactical shift saw Fernandez finish the 2025/26 season with an impressive 15 goals and 7 assists across all competitions.
According to FotMob, Fernandez’s statistics for the 2025/26 season across all competitions highlight his offensive contribution:
- 36 appearances
- 10 goals
- 4 assists
- 2.08 shots per 90 minutes
- 0.33 expected goals per 90 minutes
- 1.96 chances created per 90 minutes
- 0.21 expected assists per 90 minutes
The midfielder could make his highly anticipated Manchester City debut as early as Saturday afternoon, when Maresca’s side hosts Coventry City.
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