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By Martin Graham | 2nd Feb 2023
Chelsea have agreed to a deal with Benfica to sign Enzo Fernandez. The Argentine midfielder is set for Chelsea medical in Portugal before he joins Chelsea in a record deal.
The transfer market shut in England at 11 pm on Tuesday. It seems that is the only thing to stop the trigger-happy Todd Boehly. The American Chelsea owner has been on a massive spending spree since he took over the reins from Roman Abramovich. Chelsea has invested so much in player acquisitions this season.
No club has spent as much as Chelsea in buying players this season. The number of players signed by the west London clubs has raised concerns over Financial Fair Play (FFP) and whether it was working. In January, Chelsea spent over €300 million on eight players. The Blues have been active in the market like it is the summer transfer window.
Chelsea were able to squeeze in one last move before the transfer window shut on January 31. After much heckling and negotiating with Benfica, the Blues have come to terms with the Portuguese club on the signing of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea sign Enzo Fernandez in a record deal
Chelsea have broken yet another transfer record. The west London club have agreed to a Premier League record fee for the signing of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez. The World Cup winner will join the Blues for £105 million. It brings to over €600 million the total spent by Chelsea on transfers this season.
At the time of filing this report, Fernandez was undergoing a medical in Lisbon ahead of his Premier League record move from Benfica to Chelsea. Before the curtains came down on the transfer market, Chelsea had also tried to sign Brighton’s 21-year-old midfielder Moises Caicedo and Amadou Onana of Everton. Brighton played hardball with Caicedo as Chelsea wanted to hijack the move from Arsenal.
Portuguese broadcaster SIC reported that the deal was still in jeopardy as Chelsea raced to complete the £105m transfer before Tuesday’s 11 pm transfer deadline. According to the broadcaster, Fernandez was at Lisbon’s Hospital of Light for his medical.
The report suggests that Chelsea informed Benfica of their willingness to meet Fernandez’s £105m (€120m) release clause, but there have been some grey areas in the deal.
Initial disagreement over payment structure
Chelsea have agreed to pay the release clause of Fernandez, but both clubs have not finalized the payment structure.
Chelsea knew the Argentine midfielder was interested in joining the Blues, as he has told Benfica again he wants to join Chelsea before the window shuts. Fernandez was not part of Benfica’s squad for their Primeira Liga game at Arouca.
However, both parties finally came to a compromise that saw the Argentine midfielder complete his big move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have now effectively replaced Jorginho, who left Arsenal, for a much younger prospect with much to give in the coming years.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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