Neville: I Think Enzo Joining Manchester City Is the Biggest Signing

Neville believes Enzo joining Manchester City is the biggest Premier League midfield signing of the summer.

Gary Neville believes Enzo Fernandez's transfer to Manchester City is the most representative midfield signing of this summer's Premier League transfer window. The Argentine player joined Manchester City on deadline day for a transfer fee of £125 million, ending his three-year spell at Chelsea.

Manchester City's pursuit was not straightforward. Enzo Fernandez had been pushing to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window opened, and Chelsea ultimately decided that allowing him to depart with only a few hours remaining in the window was in the club's best interests.

The negotiations between the two clubs began on Monday, the second-to-last day before the transfer window closed. Manchester City's first offer was £104 million plus add-ons, but it was rejected, with Chelsea demanding a fixed transfer fee and valuing him at £135 million.

Manchester City then submitted a £125 million offer, which Chelsea accepted. Enzo Fernandez was one of several midfielders to move this summer. Manchester United signed Tielemans, Baleba and Andre Santos for a combined total of £155 million.

Newcastle United's Tonali and Guimaraes moved to Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal respectively, while Matheus Fernandes also joined Tottenham.

Tottenham invested £185 million in midfield reinforcements, while Arsenal paid £75 million for Guimaraes. Although these signings are also of high quality, Neville still insists that Enzo Fernandez joining Manchester City was the most important midfield transfer of the summer.

Neville said on the programme: "However, he is better than the other midfielders who moved this summer, isn't he? Is he better than Elliot Anderson? I think he probably is."

Neville continued: "I think he is more mature. I think he is better than Matheus Fernandez, Tonali and Guimaraes. So in terms of quality, they have signed a top-class midfielder, haven't they?"

Neville also said: "Look at the players Manchester United signed, Tielemans, Baleba and Andre Santos. Among all these players who transferred, he is the best one."

Manchester City spent heavily during this summer's transfer window, with total transfer spending reaching £454.2 million. Enzo Fernandez was the biggest new signing, while the club also spent £60 million to sign Everton forward Ndiaye, with the fee potentially rising to £65 million through add-ons.

The 26-year-old Ndiaye was brought in to replace Marmoush, who joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan earlier in the window. Before these late deals were completed, Manchester City had already invested heavily in rebuilding the squad.

Elliot Anderson was Manchester City's first major signing of the summer, agreeing to join during the Club World Cup. Ayoub Bouaddi then moved from Lille, with a transfer fee of £85 million.