Enzo Fernández is the first footballer sold twice for over £100 million
In 2022 Benfica paid River Plate a modest initial fee for an Argentine midfielder. Six months, a World Cup winner's medal and a young player award later, Chelsea met his €121 million release clause. In September 2026 Manchester City paid £125 million more, making Enzo Fernández the first player transferred for over £100 million on two occasions.
Fernández was born in San Martín, on the edge of Buenos Aires, one of five brothers, and started at a local club called La Recova before joining River Plate's academy. Even the year is fuzzy: he has variously been reported as joining in 2005, 2006 or around 2007. His first-team debut came as a late substitute in a Copa Libertadores defeat in March 2020.
Playing time was thin, so his coach advised a loan. At Defensa y Justicia, under Hernán Crespo, he worked his way into the side and started the 3–0 win over Lanús in the 2020 Copa Sudamericana final, his first trophy. Recalled to River, he became a regular, and a burst of eight goals and six assists in 19 games in 2022 earned him recognition as the best footballer active in Argentina.
Benfica agreed a deal in June 2022, and he began with a spectacular half-volley against Midtjylland on his debut. Then came the World Cup in Qatar, where he helped Argentina lift their third title and won the tournament's young player award. After roughly ten hours of deadline-day haggling on 31 January 2023, Chelsea completed a then British-record signing.
At Stamford Bridge he scored the opening goal of the 2025 Conference League final against Real Betis and started the 3–0 Club World Cup final win over Paris Saint-Germain weeks later. He also won the 2024 Copa América with Argentina, though he was sent off in the 2026 World Cup final. His move to Manchester City reunited him with the coach Enzo Maresca, who had managed him at Chelsea.
Source: Enzo Fernández
