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Transfer

Chelsea reject €140m Manchester City bid for Enzo Fernández

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SokaLive

01 Sep 2026, 14:00

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Manchester City made a bold deadline day move by launching a bid worth around €140 million for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández. Pep Guardiola's side, reigning Premier League champions renowned for their fluid possession-based style and immense financial depth, sought to bolster their engine room with the acquisition of the 2022 World Cup winner. Fernández, who originally arrived at Stamford Bridge following a stellar tournament campaign with Argentina in Qatar, has established himself as a central figure in English football since making his high-profile switch to west London. The Citizens engineered this late push to add further creativity and steel to their squad, aiming to outpace their domestic rivals in the race for elite silverware.

Chelsea swiftly rejected Manchester City's substantial proposal because they value the talismanic midfielder significantly higher and currently lack an adequate successor within their ranks. The Blues, operating under their ambitious ownership model, recognise that losing a player of Fernández's caliber on deadline day would leave a massive void in their squad without a direct replacement ready. Enzo Fernández, capped extensively by Argentina and previously starring for Benfica and River Plate, commands immense importance in the heart of the Chelsea midfield. The west London club historically commands top market value for their prized assets, and parting ways with the central midfielder without securing a proven alternative was deemed entirely unviable by the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

This rejected approach leaves Manchester City empty-handed in their quest for late reinforcements while placing Chelsea under immediate pressure to protect their squad depth moving forward. With the transfer window slamming shut, Enzo Fernández remains firmly in west London, where the Copa América winner must refocus on driving his team up the Premier League table. Chelsea face the ongoing challenge of identifying a suitable replacement who can match the Argentine international's defensive work rate and passing range if future bids arrive from potential suitors. Observers across English football will watch closely to see whether the Premier City outfit returns with an improved proposal when the transfer window reopens in the near future.