Maresca says the £125m Fernandez move brings a proven winner to Manchester City after the midfielder’s record transfer from Chelsea

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has described the £125 million transfer of Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea as a positive move for the club, citing the 25-year-old’s winning mentality and experience at the highest level.

Also read: Femi Azeez Calls Brighton Move a ‘Dream Come True’

Maresca spoke on Friday, September 4, 2026, after Manchester City completed the British record-equalling deal for Fernandez, reuniting the midfielder with the manager he previously worked under at Chelsea.

The £125m Fernandez move matches the British transfer record set when Liverpool signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle United last summer.

Fernandez has also become the first player to command transfer fees of more than £100m on two separate occasions.

Manchester City agreed the deal with Chelsea shortly before the transfer window closed, bringing an end to Fernandez’s three-and-a-half-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea had signed Fernandez from Benfica for about £107m in January 2023, following his breakthrough performances for Argentina during the 2022 World Cup.

For Maresca, however, the size of the transfer fee was less important than what Fernandez could bring to a Manchester City squad seeking to challenge strongly for major honours.

“Enzo Fernández… we’ve signed a winner,” Maresca said.

“Enzo has a winning mentality, he knows how to win, World Cup, Club World Cup. And the main thing is that he’s a winner.”

The manager also revealed that several Manchester City players were eager to see Fernandez arrive, suggesting that the Argentine midfielder was viewed within the squad as more than simply an expensive addition.

“I can promise you in the last four or five days, four or five players were asking if he’s coming or not, because they wanted him with us!” Maresca said.

Fernandez arrives at City with substantial experience despite being only 25.

He was part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and helped Chelsea win the Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup during his time in England.

His 2025/26 campaign was also productive. Fernandez scored 15 goals and supplied seven assists for Chelsea, while featuring for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where they finished runners-up to Spain.

The move nevertheless represents a significant change for both player and club.

Fernandez’s Chelsea career had become increasingly uncertain before his departure. He had publicly questioned his future and was left out of Chelsea’s squad for a League Cup match against Luton Town after the club and new manager Xabi Alonso decided it was better for him not to feature.

He subsequently made clear that he wanted to leave, with Manchester City emerging as his preferred destination because of the opportunity to work with Maresca again.

The relationship between the two men is an important part of the transfer. Maresca worked with Fernandez during his previous spell at Chelsea, giving the City manager first-hand knowledge of the midfielder’s qualities and personality.

Fernandez himself welcomed the reunion, saying he was delighted to join a club he regarded as being built for success.

“Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are,” Fernandez said after completing the move.

“I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies.”

The signing forms part of a major rebuilding exercise at Manchester City following Pep Guardiola’s departure.

City have invested heavily in the squad during the 2026 summer window, with Fernandez joining other significant additions including Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi and Iliman Ndiaye. The club’s spending has been among the highest in the Premier League.

The club’s recruitment comes after City finished second to Arsenal in the Premier League last season, increasing the pressure to return to the top of English football.

Fernandez’s arrival is therefore expected to add both technical quality and big-match experience to a midfield that is being reshaped under Maresca.

The Argentine could also make his Manchester City debut against Coventry City on Saturday, with Maresca confirming that the midfielder is ready to feature.

For Maresca, the immediate priority will be integrating Fernandez into his system while ensuring that the significant investment translates into results.

The manager’s confidence in the signing is clear, but the real test will come on the pitch as Fernandez begins a new chapter at the Etihad.

Also read: Femi Azeez Calls Brighton Move a ‘Dream Come True’

With a World Cup winner joining a club determined to reclaim the Premier League crown, Manchester City will hope the £125m Fernandez move proves to be a defining piece of their latest rebuilding project.