Chelsea sign Enzo Fernandez for record fee

Argentinian world champion Enzo Fernandez switched from Benfica to Chelsea shortly before the end of the transfer phase for 121 million euros.

This not only made Fernandez the most expensive player this winter. But behind Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Philippe Coutinho also the fourth most expensive player in history as well as the most expensive Premier League newcomer and the most expensive Argentine.

The 22-year-old midfielder signed with Chelsea until 2031. He is the eighth winter signing for the Londoners, who spent a total of 329.5 million euros on new players – more than all Bundesliga clubs combined.

Fernandez’ release clause was actually 120 million euros. In order to be able to pay the whole amount in installments, Chelsea had to add a million more. 25 percent of the transfer fee goes to Fernandez’ ex-club River Plate, from where he only switched to Benfica in the summer of 2022 for 14 million euros. But thanks to a strong first half of the season and an outstanding World Cup with Argentina, his market value suddenly increased.

Meanwhile, Chelsea gave up Jorginho on Deadline Day: The 31-year-old midfielder switched to league rivals and leaders Arsenal for 13.6 million euros. Jorginho’s contract would have expired next summer. At Arsenal he signed until 2024.

Meanwhile, Hakim Ziyech’s planned loan move to Paris Saint-Germain failed – although the 29-year-old passed his medical check and the transfer modalities had been clarified between all parties. Chelsea repeatedly sent false documents, as a result of which PSG were no longer able to report the transfer to Ligue 1 in time.