Chelsea finally sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez in £106.8m British-record transfer deal from Benfica
Enzo Fernandez, a midfielder for Benfica, has been acquired by Chelsea for a British-record sum of £106.8 million.
The sum spent for the World Cup champion Argentine has topped the £100 million pounds Manchester City shelled out for Jack Grealish’s transfer from Aston Villa 18 months prior.
The 22-year-old, who only joined Benfica this summer for for $10 million, has committed to Stamford Bridge for eight and a half years, keeping him there through the summer of 2031.
Chelsea and Benfica had been in negotiations to sign the midfielder all of January, but Benfica would not agree to a deal until Chelsea met his £120 million release clause.
However, after 12 hours of negotiations spearheaded by Chelsea’s co-owner Behdad Eghbali from London, the club reached an agreement on a deal worth £121 million at 9.15 p.m. on Deadline Day.
The Blues will pay a £30 million initial installment and the remaining £60 million over the course of five more payments.
The 22-year-old was absent from the Benfica team for their match against Arouca on Tuesday night because he was in Portugal for a medical before moving to Stamford Bridge.
A private plane is expected to depart the airport in Lisbon at 10.20 a.m. on Wednesday to transport Fernandez to the United Kingdom.
Jorginho, who on Deadline Day signed a £12 million agreement to join Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal, will be replaced in part by Enzo Fernandez.
