Enzo Fernandez: Several Man City players wanted updates before signing completed

Enzo Fernandez is ready to make his Manchester City debut this weekend after the Enzo Fernandez transfer from Chelsea was finalised for a joint-British record £125 million. Manager Enzo Maresca revealed that several senior players actively campaigned for the Argentina international to join, underscoring the scale of the coup for the reigning champions.

The Enzo Fernandez transfer crossed the finish line on deadline day, making the 25-year-old World Cup winner the most expensive arrival of the summer window. Maresca, who had previously named the midfielder captain during their time together at Chelsea, confirmed that Fernandez is fully prepared to feature against newly promoted Coventry City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

The Italian spoke warmly of his relationship with the player, emphasising the winning pedigree he brings to the squad. “I know Enzo quite well and I know what he can bring to the team,” Maresca said. “He is a winner — a winner’s mentality and knows how to win [after] the World Cup, Club World Cup.”

Perhaps the most striking detail of the Enzo Fernandez transfer was the eagerness of the existing squad to see it completed. Maresca disclosed that in the final four or five days of the window, multiple established City players repeatedly asked whether the deal would be done.

“I just said he is a winner and when you belong to a squad and another winning player arrives, they are always happy,” Maresca explained. “I can promise you that in the last four or five days four or five players from the squad were asking if he is coming or not because they want him to be with us.”

The manager added: “It’s very important that he is with us and we are 100% happy with that.”

While Fernandez’s arrival has energised the dressing room, the captaincy has remained with Ruben Dias. Maresca confirmed the Portuguese defender as his new skipper, replacing the departed Bernardo Silva. Erling Haaland, Marc Guehi and Gianluigi Donnarumma will form part of an expanded leadership group.

Fernandez himself fuelled the narrative of a clean break from Stamford Bridge during an in-house interview on Thursday. “I have always dreamed of being at a club as big as City,” he said — comments widely interpreted as a thinly veiled criticism of his former employers.

His departure from Chelsea had been inevitable for months. The player’s heart was set on leaving since the turn of the year, and discussions with Blues manager Xabi Alonso over the summer failed to dissuade him. Alonso responded with a measured statement: “In football many things happen. With Enzo we have had conversations and always with respect. What he has done for the club has been great, but now it’s time to move forward.”

The Spanish coach insisted his squad remains strong enough to cope without their former star. “We have players with quality in every position and now we are ready to go,” he said.

The Enzo Fernandez transfer was the headline act in a summer of unprecedented spending at the Etihad. The club committed a transfer window record £458 million to new acquisitions, with £327 million of that dedicated to overhauling the midfield. Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi joined Fernandez in the engine room, while wingers Iliman Ndiaye and Allan, plus back-up goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, rounded out the first-team arrivals.

Despite the outlay, the club recouped more than £300 million through player sales, mitigating some of the financial impact. Maresca expressed gratitude to the ownership for backing his vision so comprehensively.

“I am very happy for the effort from the ownership, Khaldoon [Al Mubarak] and Hugo [Viana],” he said. “In the last days, Iliman and Enzo arrived, and now the squad is complete — it’s finished. Now it is time to work.”

Fernandez’s debut against Coventry offers an immediate opportunity to justify his price tag. The match at the Etihad will provide a relatively gentle introduction before the rigours of the Premier League campaign intensify.

For Chelsea, the focus shifts to life after their record signing. The Blues must prove they can thrive without the Argentine, while City will look to integrate their new midfield general into a side already stacked with talent.

The Enzo Fernandez transfer has reshaped the champions’ midfield and sent a clear signal to the rest of the division. With the player eager to prove himself, the manager fully behind him, and the dressing room actively welcoming his arrival, the foundations appear set for a successful partnership. Whether the £125 million investment delivers silverware will become clearer in the months ahead, but the initial signs point to a seamless integration.