OFFICIAL: Enzo Fernández Has Been Unveiled As A New Chelsea Player.

Chelsea has unveiled Enzo Fernández as new €121m (£106.8m) signing, the most expensive midfielder ever.

Fernandez who was desperate to join the Blues, had earlier agreed terms with Chelsea in the early weeks of January, though Benfica were extremely reluctant to let go of their Argentine World Cup winning midfielder, and ensured Chelsea had to paid a mammoth fee in order to get their eighth signing of the transfer window over the line.

Chelsea agreed a deal of €121m at 10.15pm on Deadline Day after 12 hours of talks led by Chelsea's co-owner Behdad Eghbali from London.

The West London club will pay a first instalment of £30m with the rest of the fee paid in five further instalments.

Hola Enzo. 😉 pic.twitter.com/sYtDZ23QQb

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 1, 2023

He becomes Chelsea's club-record signing and the British record signing, surpassing Jack Grealish and his £100m move to Manchester City from Aston Villa in 2021. 

He joined Benfica from River Plate for £10m in June 2022, and leaves the Portuguese outfit with 25 appearances, four goals and seven assists to his name.

River Plate reportedly have a 25% sell-on clause on Fernandez's transfer to Chelsea..

Enzo Fernandez’s tactical acumen, endless energy and technical proficiency was not only crucial in La Albiceleste’s first glory on the global stage since 1986; it also won him the FIFA Young Player Award at the World Cup in Qatar in December. He scored for Argentina in their crucial group stage win against Mexico.

He played only three times prior to their World Cup campaign, making his international debut in September.

After signing an eight-and-a-half-year deal worth the Blues which would keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2031, the 21-year-old would wear the No.5 shirt at Chelsea which was only recently vacant following the departure of Jorginho to London rivals Arsenal on deadline day for a reported £12m. He had worn the No.13 shirt at Benfica.

Enzo speaking after completing a British record transfer to Chelsea, thanking the club's owners for getting a deal over the line, said;

“I am grateful to Chelsea and its ownership for doing everything they could to make me a part of this project. I’m happy and excited to join the Pride of London, to play in the best league in the world and to compete for the biggest trophies. I can’t wait to play in front of our fans and help my teammates on and off the pitch.”

Chelsea were the most active Premier League club in the January transfer window. Their spending hit £322m with Enzo Fernandez becoming their eighth signing, as he joins Malo Gusto, Joao Felix, Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana, Mykhailo Mudryk, Andrey Santos and Noni Madueke as Chelsea's new recruits.

Enzo, like all our January signings, should be available for Friday’s game against Fulham.