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Enzo Fernandez has completed his £125million move from Chelsea to Manchester City – finally.
The Argentine made the switch in a bonkers Deadline Day for plenty of Premier League sides, and while Chelsea were able to bank a British record-equalling fee for their No8, the Blues were unable to land a replacement ahead of the 11pm BST cut-off on Tuesday.
Xabi Alonso’s side had lined up a deal – fully agreed – for Lamine Camara from Monaco, but the Ligue 1 side reneged on the move at the last to leave the west Londoners without a replacenment for their departed Argentine.
Chelsea had also eyed Manu Kone of Roma, but that door was closed despite the clubs nearing an agreement after the Serie A side’s manager Gian Piero Gasperini personally stepped in to block the move.
Regardless, Fernandez completed the transfer he had been angling for all summer, reuniting with his former boss Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium, where the 25-year-old will wear the No17 shirt on his back.
He follows in the footsteps of the great Kevin de Bruyne, who sported the number from 2015 to 2025, while Chinese fans’ favourite Sun Jihai wore the No17 for seven years between 2001 and 2008.
Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov took ownership for three years until 2010, before Jerome Boateng, Michael Johnson and Jack Rodwell all had a turn.
Now, the honour has been bestowed on Fernandez, who hailed his new side as “the most successful club in England in recent times”.
“Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are,” he said upon arrival.
“I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success.
“If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player.
“I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here.”
