Manchester Metropolis signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea on Tuesday in a reported £125 million deal ($167 million) that equalled the British switch file.
The payment for the Argentine worldwide matches that paid by Liverpool to Newcastle for Sweden striker Alexander Isak final yr.
Metropolis boss Enzo Maresca labored with Fernandez at Chelsea earlier than taking up the daunting activity of succeeding Pep Guardiola on the Etihad.
The Italian was a driving pressure behind the deal to land Fernandez after the current sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, in addition to the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.
The 25-year-old will companion England worldwide Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in Metropolis's revamped central midfield at a value of over £300 million.
"Each participant needs to be a part of a membership like this as a result of everybody is aware of how well-run Metropolis are," mentioned Fernandez in a Metropolis assertion.
"It is a membership constructed for fulfillment. For those who look throughout the squad, Metropolis have high quality in each space. I wish to study from my new teammates and grow to be a greater participant."
Fernandez received the UEFA Convention League and the Membership World Cup in his time at Chelsea, however his relationship with the membership's followers was soured by what they perceived as his want to depart Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea supervisor Xabi Alonso had left Fernandez out of his squad for the final two video games as hypothesis swirled over his potential change to Metropolis.
"I would like you to know that these haven’t been straightforward days for me. Writing this isn’t straightforward both. The reality is, I haven't been in an excellent place," Fernandez mentioned in a prolonged farewell put up to Chelsea on Instagram.
"Life is about making choices, and proper now I discover myself having to make a kind of troublesome choices."
Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica for £106 million in 2023, angered the Blues final season by expressing curiosity in becoming a member of Actual Madrid and was dropped for 2 matches consequently.
He scored twice in Argentina's run to the World Cup closing, together with a shocking strike in opposition to England within the semi-final.
However his match ended with a crimson card within the closing as Argentina had been crushed 1-0 to overlook out on retaining their standing as world champions.
"He’s a whole midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer," mentioned Metropolis's director of soccer Hugo Viana.
"To have performed in two World Cup finals and received main trophies in a number of international locations at simply 25 says all the things you’ll want to learn about his mentality, professionalism and technical high quality.
"We’re delighted to convey him right here and really feel very strongly he’ll enhance our workforce."
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