Enzo Fernández to Man City: £137m Deal Could Shatter Premier League Transfer Record

According to AS, the proposed deal could be worth £120m up front plus £17m in add-ons, taking the total package to around £137m.

The figure would represent a major escalation in a transfer saga that has already stretched across much of the summer. City have been pursuing Fernández as they reshape their midfield under manager Enzo Maresca, who knows the Argentina international from their time together at Chelsea.

Why Manchester City Are Pushing for Fernández

City's interest comes as the club undergoes a significant midfield rebuild.

Rodri has departed for Barcelona, Tijjani Reijnders has moved to Al Qadsiah and Bernardo Silva has also left, while City have already invested heavily in young midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Fernández would give Maresca another high-level midfielder capable of controlling possession, progressing the ball and contributing in the final third.

The managerial connection is another important factor. Maresca worked with Fernández at Chelsea and is understood to be keen on bringing him to Manchester as City look to strengthen an area of the squad that has undergone major changes.

Chelsea Face a Huge Decision

Chelsea's position has shifted during the saga.

The Blues previously valued Fernández at around £120m, and Sky Sports reported earlier in August that City missed a deadline to make a bid at those terms.

However, negotiations have now reopened as the transfer deadline approaches, with Chelsea needing to decide whether the financial reward of a huge sale outweighs the sporting damage of sending one of their most important midfielders to a direct Premier League rival.

Chelsea are also exploring potential replacements, with midfielders including Lamine Camara and Manu Koné among the names linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.

Could £137m Make Fernández the Premier League's Record Transfer?

If the reported structure is completed at its maximum value, the £137m total package would put Fernández at the top of the Premier League's transfer-fee rankings.

That would make the proposed move even more significant than Chelsea's own blockbuster spending this summer.

The key distinction, however, is that the reported £137m is a maximum package, rather than necessarily the guaranteed upfront fee. The structure of the add-ons will therefore matter enormously when assessing the final value of the transfer.

What Happens Next?

The timing could hardly be more dramatic.

With the summer transfer window closing on September 1, Manchester City and Chelsea have very little time to resolve the remaining financial and sporting issues.

For City, Fernández represents a potential statement signing and a major piece in Maresca's midfield rebuild.

For Chelsea, accepting a package potentially worth £137m could provide extraordinary financial value—but only if they can find an adequate replacement before the deadline.

The biggest question is no longer whether City remain interested.

It is whether Chelsea will accept a fee large enough to make the deal impossible to ignore.