Chelsea to sign Enzo Fernandez for €127m

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 23 May 2023 09:00 CDT
• 4 min read

Chelsea are set to sign Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez for €127 million, according to transfer expert Gianluca Di Marzio.

The Blues have agreed a deal with Benfica that will see them pay €7m more than the Argentine’s release clause.

The reason for this is so that Chelsea will be allowed to pay his transfer fee in three installments, rather than all in one go as is stipulated in the clause.

READ MORE: January 2022-23 done deals

The transfer makes Enzo the most expensive signing in Chelsea’s history, overtaking Romelu Lukaku’s move from Inter in the summer of 2021.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) January 3, 2023

The midfielder also becomes the fourth most expensive transfer in history and Benfica’s biggest ever sale.

Fernandez was one of the best midfielders at the 2022 World Cup, playing a key role as Argentina won the trophy.

The 21-year-old broke into the Argentina starting XI during the group stages after scoring a brilliant goal against Mexico.

He went on to be named Young Player of the Tournament, winning plaudits the world over.

Chelsea win race to sign Enzo Fernandez

His performances have led to interest from a host of top clubs around Europe.

Premier League giants Man Utd, Liverpool and Newcastle were interested, while Real Madrid were also watching him closely.

However, it is Chelsea who have got their man as they look to revamp an ageing midfield.

N’Golo Kante and Jorginho both see their contracts expire at the end of the season and both are likely to leave in 2023.

Chelsea are set for a busy January transfer window, having already signed David Datro Fofana from Molde, and with Vasco da Gama’s Andrey Santos and Monaco’s Benoit Badiashile also on their way.

Fernandez joined Benfica for €18m and has already proved to be a bargain.

He scored three goals and provided five assists this season for a Benfica team who are top of the Portuguese league. They also topped their Champions League group above PSG, winning home and away versus Juventus.

Fernandez’s performances also saw him hailed by national teammate Lionel Messi.

What did Messi say about Enzo Fernandez?

"I’m not surprised by Enzo. I know him and I see him train every day," Messi said.

"He deserves it because he’s a spectacular player."