Enzo Fernández has made Premier League history, becoming the first player to break the £100 million mark twice in transfer fees.
The Argentine is set to join Manchester City on the final day of the transfer window for a reported £125 million, following his £106.8 million move from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023. That deal was a British transfer record at the time, and Fernández will now become the first Premier League player to surpass the £100 million mark on two separate transfers.
Also, he becomes the only player to break the British transfer record on two separate occasions is quite the achievement, particularly for a player who famously frustrated England supporters during the World Cup.
The breakthrough in negotiations, which came after Chelsea’s self-imposed August 14 deadline, has resulted in a deal worth £125 million, matching Alexander Isak’s move from Newcastle to Liverpool exactly one year later. Chelsea could potentially view the additional £5 million as the cost of allowing negotiations to run beyond their deadline without securing the replacement they wanted.
It remains unclear whether the move was primarily driven by Fernández or Chelsea, with Xabi Alonso leaving the World Cup winner out of his recent squads due to concerns over his fitness and focus. His absence only added further fuel to the uncertainty surrounding his future, before negotiations eventually produced a late agreement.
Is he worth the transfer record, not once, but twice?
There is little doubt that Enzo Fernández is a world-class midfielder. He was one of Argentina’s standout performers during their 2022 World Cup triumph and has played an important role in Chelsea’s recent history since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Operating primarily as a modern No. 8, Fernández offers contributions at both ends of the pitch, combining his ability to progress the ball and create chances with a willingness to contribute defensively. Across three seasons at Chelsea, he only registered 19 Premier League goals and 13 assists.
However, there is a legitimate debate over whether Fernández justifies a transfer fee of more than £100 million for a second time. Comparisons with Pedri, Declan Rice, Vitinha and Rodri highlight the difficulty in placing Fernández among the very best midfielders in Europe, with the argument that he currently sits a tier below that elite group.
His value ultimately depends on what Manchester City believe he can become rather than solely what he has achieved at Chelsea. At 25, there remains significant room for development, and the Enzo Maresca reunion may believe his system can unlock another level from Fernández.
But, breaking the £100million mark twice is not necesarily justified.
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