Chelsea sign Enzo Fernandez for a STAGGERING British record £107m from Benfica, with co-owner Behdad Eghbali critical in pushing move around the line as midfielder indications 8-and-a-50 % 12 months deal
Chelsea have sensationally signed Enzo Fernandez for a British history £107million right after agreeing a deal with Benfica late on deadline day.
The eye-watering swoop for Chelsea’s No 1 January goal headed into the last minutes of the transfer window as both equally clubs invested Tuesday locked in talks over the move for the Argentina international.
At just one place, it appeared as however Chelsea would fail to get the offer for the 22-yr-previous Entire world Cup winner over the line – but both equally functions lastly produced a breakthrough just minutes right before the 11pm deadline. Fernandez will indication an 8-and-a-half 12 months offer through to June 2031.
Chelsea and Benfica have agreed a £105 million offer for midfielder Enzo Fernandez (remaining)
He has been 1 of the world’s most extremely rated players given that his displays at the Entire world Cup
Benfica verified the shift in a assertion in the early hrs of Wednesday early morning right after the clubs done the needed paperwork prior to the deadline. The Portuguese club also taken off Fernandez from their list of players on the club web-site.
The Blues teased an announcement by changing their Twitter bio to an Argentina flag adopted by a trophy emoji.
Chelsea’s co-managing proprietor Behdad Eghbali – who also sanctioned Jorginho’s shift to Arsenal on Tuesday – led negotiations for the Globe Cup winner with Benfica from London.
Chelsea teased an announcement in excess of the Fernandez offer by shifting their Twitter bio
Benfica issued a statement in the early hrs of Wednesday morning to ensure the offer
Sources experienced before indicated that Chelsea could slide just quick and had been ready to convert their interest to completing a summer months go for Fernandez because sealing a offer for this period was proving also tricky.
But Tuesday night’s arrangement was satisfied with enormous reduction presented the club’s dedication to comprehensive the move in January.
It is understood the major hurdle the Londoners have been hoping to prevail over was agreeing a payment plan for the document price with Benfica.
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali (remaining) is claimed to have been key in securing the offer
Chelsea needed to shell out in 6 instalments, which include one particular greater up-entrance payment.
Benfica, nevertheless, originally desired Chelsea to shell out Fernandez’s £105m release clause in one particular go. Talks on Tuesday were being generally aimed at negotiating that impediment, with Chelsea presenting to cut down the amount of instalments.
It is considered Benfica were being keen to take a payment composition of a few instalments more than two years and ultimately a middle floor was arrived at. Fernandez experienced always been open up to a move, but has decided to keep out of talks out of respect to Benfica.
Even with the delay, Chelsea designed preparations for his clinical in Portugal and organised a non-public jet to fly him to England. He is owing to board the flight on Wednesday morning soon after completing the related paperwork.
The offer comes just after Jorginho (pictured) swapped Chelsea for Arsenal in a £12million move
Benfica left the 22-12 months-aged out of their squad to confront Arouca on Tuesday and he also skipped training on Monday. Personalized terms experienced already been agreed.
The signing provides Chelsea’s whole paying in January to extra than £323million.
On a seismic day for the Stamford Bridge club, the Blues also sold Jorginho to Arsenal in a offer value up to £12million. The Gunners turned to the Italian on Monday immediately after conceding defeat in their bid to indication Moises Caicedo from Brighton.
They will pay back an original payment of £10million for the midfielder, who has signed an 18-month offer with an option for further yr.
On supervisor Mikel Arteta’s part in him signing up for the Gunners, Jorginho said: ‘He experimented with a couple of occasions to get me just before and it did not occur owing to other good reasons, not because of my needs. So, of system, he experienced a huge influence.’