Chelsea pays record fee for Fernandez
LONDON: Premier League side Chelsea completed the signing of Benfica’s Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez for a British record £106.8 million
($US204.6 million) yesterday after a day of complex negotiations between the clubs.
A statement from Benfica confirmed a deal had been reached between the clubs over how Chelsea would pay the release fee for the 22yearold, who has signed an eightandahalf year contract.
Chelsea was still to confirm the deal but according to Sky Sports the paperwork had been submitted on time and before the transfer deadline.
‘‘Sport Lisboa e Benfica — Futebol, SAD informs that it has reached an agreement with Chelsea FC for the sale of all the rights of the player Enzo Fernandez, for an amount of ¤121 million,’’ the statement read.
The fee eclipses the £100 million Manchester City paid Aston Villa for England midfielder Jack Grealish in 2021.
Fernandez was instrumental in Argentina’s World Cup campaign in Qatar, breaking into the starting lineup and playing every game, capping off the tournament by bagging the Young Player Award.
Benfica boss Roger Schmidt was not keen on seeing Fernandez leave but had said its hands would be tied if a club paid the player’s release clause.
Fernandez moved from Argentine side River Plate to Benfica only last year and has played 29 times in all competitions, scoring four goals and grabbing seven assists.
He is Chelsea’s eighth recruit in the midseason transfer window after the London club signed Mykhailo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Andrey Santos, David Fofana and Malo Gusto while Joao Felix arrived on loan from Atletico Madrid.
Fernandez’s transfer takes the club’s total outlay on players since last year’s takeover by an investment group led by American Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital to around £600 million with more than
£300 million splashed out in January alone.
Chelsea is 10th in the Premier League. — Reuters