City boss Enzo Maresca worked with Fernandez at Chelsea before taking on the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola at the Etihad. The Italian was a driving force behind the deal to land Fernandez after the recent sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, as well as the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders. Manchester City signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea on Tuesday in a reported 125 million pounds deal ($167 million) that equalled the British transfer record.
The fee for the Argentine international matches that paid by Liverpool to Newcastle for Sweden striker Alexander Isak last year.
Fernandez won the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup in his time at Chelsea, but his relationship with the club’s fans was soured by what they perceived as his desire to leave Stamford Bridge. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had left Fernandez out of his squad for the last two games as speculation swirled over his potential switch to City. The 25-year-old will partner England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in City’s revamped central midfield at a cost of over 300 million pounds.
Fernandez Joins Manchester City, Aims for Growth
Fernandez has officially joined Manchester City, expressing his excitement about being part of a well-structured club known for its success. In a statement, he remarked, “This is a club built for success. If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area.” He emphasized his desire to learn from his new teammates and enhance his skills as a player.
