Just a Record-Breaking Transfer? Enzo Move Sets Six Major Football Records, Ranks Third in History Ahead of Ronaldo

Shortly before the summer transfer window closed, Manchester City completed a blockbuster last-minute deal to officially sign Argentina international Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea. The transfer fee reached €145 million, making him the most expensive signing of the 2026 summer transfer window while also breaking multiple historical football transfer records and opening a new chapter in the midfield transfer market.

Manchester City's initial offer was €120 million, but after several rounds of negotiations, Chelsea eventually raised the final fee to €145 million. The 25-year-old Enzo signed a long-term contract with Manchester City until June 2031 and will begin a new stage of his career at the Etihad Stadium.

The key records broken by this transfer include:

1. Chelsea's highest-ever outgoing transfer fee record

The €145 million income significantly improves Chelsea's record for selling a player. Previously, the club's outgoing transfer record was held by Hazard, who joined Real Madrid in 2019 for €120.8 million; the second-highest was Havertz's €75 million move to Arsenal. Enzo's departure brings Chelsea an unprecedented transfer income in the club's history.

2. The first player in football history to complete two transfers worth more than €100 million

In world football history, only 23 transfers had previously exceeded €100 million, and no player had ever completed two separate transfers at that level.

Enzo moved from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023 for €121 million; this time, his €145 million move to Manchester City made him the first player in football history to have two transfers above €100 million, creating a unique historical milestone.

3. Joint-highest transfer fee in Premier League history

The €145 million fee matched the Premier League transfer record set by Isak's move to Liverpool last summer. Enzo therefore became joint-highest in Premier League history for transfer fees, raising the price ceiling for midfield signings in the league.

4. A new benchmark for Argentine player transfer fees

Even when he transferred to Chelsea, Enzo had already become the Argentine player with the highest transfer fee in history, and this €145 million deal has further improved that record.

Across his career, Enzo's total transfer fees have reached €310.25 million (River Plate to Benfica €44.3 million, Benfica to Chelsea €121 million, Chelsea to Manchester City €145 million). This cumulative transfer amount has surpassed Ronaldo's €247 million and ranks third in football history (behind only Neymar's €400 million and Lukaku's €369.9 million). It is also far above Di Maria's Argentine career transfer total record of €179 million, placing Enzo clearly at the top of Argentina's historical list.

5. The most expensive midfielder in football history

The €145 million fee makes Enzo the midfielder with the highest single-transfer fee in football history. The previous record was held by Manchester City's summer signing Elliott Anderson, whose move to City cost €135 million; Enzo has now surpassed that mark.

In terms of cumulative career transfer fees, the previous record holder was Tonali with €194.4 million. Enzo's €310.25 million total has created a significant gap, making him the midfielder with the highest cumulative transfer cost.

6. Manchester City's highest-ever signing fee record

This deal also set a new record for Manchester City's transfer spending on a signing. The previous record was also held by summer arrival Elliott Anderson (€135 million); before that were Grealish's €117.5 million move in 2021 and De Bruyne's €76 million transfer in 2015. Even for financially powerful Manchester City, this represents the biggest investment on a signing in club history.