The biggest deal of the winter took place just before the end of the transfer! (OVERVIEW: All fixed transfers in the Bundesliga)
Chelsea FC have agreed with Benfica on the transfer of Enzo Fernández. The listed Benfica confirmed the mega deal in an official statement on Wednesday night.
The fee for Fernández is therefore 121 million euros – additional payments could be added. 25 percent of the transfer fee goes to River Plate, the former club of the Argentine world champions.
The tough negotiations for the world champion had continued late Tuesday evening. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Fernández will sign a contract until 2031, with the money to flow from London to Lisbon in several installments.
Fernández deal breaks all boundaries
Deadline Day ended at 11:59 p.m. in England. (NEWS: Everything about the transfer market in SPORTS1-Transferticker)
And he ended with a bang for Fernández. Overall, Chelsea have had an insane transfer record this winter. The Blues spent more than 600 million euros on new player material – according to transfermarkt.de more than all Bundesliga clubs combined. And also more than was spent in total in LaLiga.
What’s more, even in wealthy England, so much money has never been spent on a midfielder – Fernández is setting a transfer record after joining Benfica from River Plate in July 2022 for “just” 14 million euros.
He is also now the most expensive signing in Premier League history, and the most expensive Argentine footballer. With only four transfers (Neymar, Mbappé, Dembélé, Coutinho) more money ever flowed.
Medical check apparently in Portugal
According to information from The Athletic Benfica had given his player permission in the evening to complete the medical check in Portugal so as not to have to travel to London – this should now happen.
The deal was not fixed for a long time. After passing the check, the contracts still had to be signed – a race against time.
The Blues have been trying for weeks to hire Fernández, who made a name for himself at the World Cup in Qatar. While it initially looked like the 22-year-old would stay in Lisbon, Chelsea have recently intensified their efforts.
Chelsea advertises – Schmidt angry
“We love him and want him to stay at Benfica,” said the German in early January. “You know we don’t want to sell this player.”
At that time, the amount of 120 million euros was still circulating as a fixed transfer fee for Fernández.
Fernández still had a contract with Benfica until 2027. At the World Cup he scored one goal and provided one assist. (NEWS: Will Chelsea add another 120m?)
After a disappointing first half of the season, Chelsea recently showed themselves to be on a spending spree, signing a total of nine players in the winter, including Joao Félix on loan and Mykhaylo Mudryk for up to 100 million euros.