Enzo Fernandez (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Enzo Fernandez has completed his move from Chelsea to Manchester City, but a late Monaco decision left the Blues without the replacement they had already lined up.
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Manchester City have completed the biggest deal of deadline day, signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a British record-equalling £125m.
The Argentina international has signed a five-year contract at the Etihad Stadium and will reunite with former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca. The £125m fee equals the British record set when Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle a year ago.
Fernandez's departure was hardly unexpected. The midfielder informed Chelsea more than three months ago that he wanted to leave Stamford Bridge, while the club set a deadline for offers more than two weeks before the end of the window.
Chelsea eventually accepted City's enormous offer and will make an £18m profit on a player they signed for £107m three-and-a-half years ago.
"Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times," Fernandez said. "Every player wants to be part of a club like that because everyone knows how well City are run."
"I couldn't be happier to be here and I'm ready for the challenge of helping City continue to win trophies. This is a club built to succeed."
Monaco leave Chelsea without Fernandez replacement
The real drama unfolded elsewhere. Chelsea had agreed a £47m deal for Monaco midfielder Lamino Camara, who was expected to sign a six-year contract and replace Fernandez. Camara had even completed his medical.
But shortly after the 11 pm deadline, Monaco informed Chelsea in writing that they were pulling out of the transfer. Their decision followed the collapse of Folarin Balogun's proposed move to Everton, despite Monaco previously negotiating terms for the American striker's departure.
Chelsea therefore faced a major decision in the final moments of the window. They could have blocked Fernandez's move after discovering Camara would not arrive, but instead kept their word to Manchester City and allowed the Argentine to complete his transfer.
The result is a very different deadline-day outcome for the two clubs. City have secured one of the world's leading midfielders for £125m, while Chelsea have lost Fernandez and failed to bring in the player they had chosen to replace him.