Chelsea Confirm No Official £120M Bid Received For Enzo Fernandez As Exit Clause Expires
The London club is now understood to be in total control of the Argentine World Cup winner’s future, with no obligation to entertain any offers below their valuation.
Chelsea Midfielder Enzo Maresca. Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
Chelsea have not received any official bid for midfielder Enzo Fernandez, with the club’s self-imposed 5pm UK time deadline now passed.
According to reports, the Blues have informed all parties that the £120 million verbal ‘exit clause’ that was made available to Enzo’s camp at the end of May is now officially off the table.
The London club is now understood to be in total control of the Argentine World Cup winner’s future, with no obligation to entertain any offers below their valuation.
Chelsea sources indicate that a verbal agreement was in place which would have allowed potential suitors to trigger an exit for Fernandez for £120m, but that arrangement came with specific terms and conditions. That window has now closed without any formal paperwork being submitted to Stamford Bridge.
Despite the expiry of the clause, interest in the 25-year-old midfielder remains strong. Manchester City are believed to have remained in contact with Enzo’s camp in the last 48 hours as they assess their midfield options.
City, who are looking to refresh their midfield department, have long admired the Argentine international since his move to the Premier League from Benfica in January 2023 for a then-British record £106.8 million.
It remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s side will return to the table with a different proposal later in the window. However, any new approach will have to be negotiated directly with Chelsea, without the framework of the £120m exit route that is no longer valid.
Fernandez has been a key figure for Chelsea under Enzo Maresca, featuring regularly in the heart of midfield alongside Moises Caicedo. The club views him as central to their long-term project and has no desire to sell unless an extraordinary offer arrives.
Chelsea’s stance is clear – they hold all the cards. With Fernandez contracted until 2032 after signing an eight-and-a-half-year deal upon his arrival, the club is under no financial pressure to sell.
The Blues have already had a busy summer window, and losing a player of Enzo’s calibre would require a significant replacement.
For now, Enzo Fernandez remains a Chelsea player, and any club wishing to prise him away from Stamford Bridge will have to make a fresh, and likely much larger, proposal to test Chelsea’s resolve.
The situation will continue to be monitored closely as the transfer window progresses.
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