Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez is likely to be sold this summer, according to reports, with potential destinations including Manchester City and Real Madrid. The news comes after a disappointing end to the season for Chelsea, culminating in a defeat to Sunderland, following which Fernandez appeared to bid farewell to supporters.
Reporter Ben Jacobs noted that Fernandez’s gesture to fans at full-time ‘could be interpreted as a goodbye’. Journalist Si Phillips has claimed his sources indicate Fernandez is ‘set to leave’ Chelsea during the upcoming transfer window. This follows Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg reporting recent discussions regarding a move to Manchester City, fueled by the arrival of former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as City’s new head coach.
Real Madrid are also known to be admirers of Fernandez, with the player having previously expressed interest in a move to the Spanish capital. Jacobs added that Fernandez ‘would welcome a bid from Real Madrid’ and that ‘informal and formative talks’ have taken place with Manchester City. A key factor in Fernandez’s potential departure is Chelsea’s failure to qualify for Champions League football, making it more difficult to persuade him to sign a new contract.
However, Chelsea will only consider a sale that generates a profit, avoiding a ‘book loss’ on the player. Fernandez joined Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023, signing an eight-and-a-half-year contract for a fee of £106.8 million. Approximately £44 million of that fee has been amortized over the past three-and-a-half years. Therefore, Chelsea would require a minimum fee of £62.8 million to avoid a financial loss. While this represents a baseline, the club may seek a higher fee given Fernandez’s recent form and potential.
Chelsea finished the Premier League season in 10th place, without any European qualification for next season. The situation presents an opportunity for both Fernandez to pursue Champions League football and for Chelsea to recoup a significant portion of their initial investment.
