Chelsea have completed a British record £106.8 million signing of Benfica midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a dramatic final act of the January transfer window.
Fernandez’s move to Stamford Bridge, which went through in the last hours of Tuesday’s deadline day, breaks the British transfer record set by Manchester City’s signing of Jack Grealish in 2021.
The 22-year-old Argentina international will put pen to paper on an eight-and-a-half-year deal that will see him stay put with the west London giants until 2031, according to a report from Goal.
Chelsea had been pushing for the completion of the deal to sign the Argentine World Cup star but their efforts over the January window had been rebuffed by Benfica who were reluctant to allow Fernandez to leave should his £105.9 million release clause not be paid in full.
The Blues, following their hefty spending since the summer which has seen 16 incomings at the Bridge, were considering not triggering the clause because of concerns over breaching the financial fair play regulations before they conceded to Benfica’s demands.
