Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernandez for record fee: report

By Mark White
published

Chelsea are on the verge of signing Enzo Fernandez and breaking their own transfer record in the process

Chelsea target Enzo Fernandez in action during the Liga Portugal Bwin match between Pacos de Ferreira and SL Benfica at Estadio Capital do Movel on February 26, 2023 in Pacos de Ferreira, Portugal.
(Image credit: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Chelsea are on the brink of agreeing a club-record deal for Enzo Fernandez of Benfica. The World Cup winner will become their eighth signing of the window.

The Blues bid for the midfielder earlier in the transfer window but were rebuffed by Benfica, who only signed Fernandez from River Plate over the summer. Following a successful World Cup in which he won the Young Player award, he has become one of the most talked-about players in Europe.

Now, it seems as if Chelsea have their man, following an eye-watering bid.

Enzo Fernandez of Argentina poses for a photo with the FIFA Young Player award during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Final match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium on December 18, 2022 in Lusail City, Qatar.

Enzo Fernandez shot to global attention at the World Cup with Argentina (Image credit: Alex Caparros - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

The Times (opens in new tab) are reporting that Chelsea are set to shell out an incredible £115 million for Fernandez, who cost Benfica less than £15m mere months ago. Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (opens in new tab), meanwhile, says (opens in new tab) Chelsea "want the player at all costs" and despite Benfica's stance that he is not for sale, the Blues will "insist to get the deal done now."

Chelsea's previous transfer record was around £100m, paid in the summer of 2021 to bring Romelu Lukaku back to Stamford Bridge from Inter Milan. 

Chelsea have been extremely busy in the transfer market since Todd Boehly acquired the club last summer and this winter has followed the hectic summer, with seven new arrivals.

Benoit Badiashile was first to join before David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos both joined. Joao Felix moved to London on loan, before the headline buy of Mykhaylo Mudryk. Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto have both signed for the two-time Champions League winners, too. 

Mykhaylo Mudryk applauds while being introduced to the fans on the pitch at half time during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15, 2023 in London, England.

Chelsea have had a hectic winter with Mykhaylo Mudryk being the big news prior to Fernandez (Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea have also said to be in for Moises Caicedo, though it looks as if the Ecuadorian will stay put, despite interest from a few Premier League clubs. 

Fernandez is valued by Transfermarkt (opens in new tab) to be worth €55m.

More Chelsea stories

Declan Rice has reportedly agreed to join Arsenal this summer (opens in new tab), with the West Ham (opens in new tab) midfielder also a transfer target for Chelsea (opens in new tab).

Chelsea have reopened talks over a move for Enzo Fernandez (opens in new tab), whom they were linked with at the start of January.

But the Blues look set to be beaten by Liverpool to the signature of Wolves star Matheus Nunes this summer (opens in new tab).

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Mark White
Mark White
Staff Writer

Mark White has been a staff writer on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, writing pieces for both online and the magazine. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals for FFT and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He once saw Tyrone Mings at a petrol station in Bournemouth but felt far too short to ask for a photo.