Manchester City have signed Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a transfer deal worth 146 million euros at the close of the summer window.
The agreement makes the 25-year-old midfielder the most expensive acquisition of the summer transfer period, crowning the financial dominance of English Premier League clubs across the European transfer market.
Negotiations between the two English top-flight clubs were protracted before reaching a final settlement. Manchester City launched discussions with an initial offer of 104 million pounds plus performance bonuses, while Chelsea demanded 135 million pounds to release the player.
After discussions briefly appeared to reach an impasse, both sides agreed on a compromise fee of 125 million pounds. Fernandez completed the required medical tests and was officially announced by the Manchester club.
The acquisition of the Argentine international was not Manchester City's only major deal before the deadline. The club also completed the signing of Senegalese winger Iliman Ndiaye from fellow Premier League side Everton for a fee of 60 million pounds, with an additional 5 million pounds structured in performance bonuses.
The 26-year-old attacker signed a long-term contract with the Etihad Stadium club that will keep him in Manchester until 2031.
Premier League transfer spending
These transactions capped a summer transfer window dominated by Premier League clubs, who spent heavily to reinforce their squads. Liverpool paid 140 million euros to acquire Bradley Barcola from French club Paris Saint-Germain, while Chelsea invested 138 million euros to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa.
Prior to their late moves, Manchester City had already committed significant funds to their squad depth. The club signed Elliot Anderson for 135 million euros and completed a deal for Ayman Bouaddi for 95 million euros.
North London club Tottenham Hotspur were particularly active throughout the window, completing three major signings to strengthen their roster. Tottenham paid 108 million euros for Sandro Tonali, 99 million euros for Matheus Fernandes, and 87.7 million euros for Savinho.
Arsenal also added high-profile quality to their midfield options, securing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United in a deal valued at 87.5 million euros.
Barcelona completed their most expensive transfer from an English team by paying Newcastle United 80 million euros for winger Anthony Gordon.
Major European and international moves
Outside of English football, Spanish club Real Madrid recorded the largest single outlay of the window, spending 125 million euros to acquire Yan Diomande.
In Italian Serie A, AC Milan signed the biggest deal of the summer by acquiring striker Goncalo Ramos from Paris Saint-Germain for 74 million euros.
Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal spent almost ten million euros less than that figure to sign Crysencio Summerville from Premier League team West Ham United.
In the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munich recorded the league's highest transfer expense by paying Dutch side PSV Eindhoven 50 million euros for Ismael Saibari. French champions Paris Saint-Germain committed the exact same sum of 50 million euros to acquire Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.
Greek international transfers
The summer transfer window also featured substantial activity involving Greek international footballers moving across major European leagues in multi-million euro transactions.
The largest deal involving a Greek player saw Christos Tzolis complete a move to Arsenal, with the English club paying 40 million euros to Belgian side Club Brugge to bring him to London.
German Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund made major investments in young Greek talent, securing Konstantinos Karetsas for 35 million euros and completing a deal for Giannis Konstantelias for 26 million euros.
In England, Hull City completed a double Greek acquisition, paying 23.3 million euros for goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis before adding midfielder Christos Mouzakitis for 15 million euros.
Defender Konstantinos Koulierakis departed Wolfsburg following the German team's relegation from the Bundesliga, completing a 17 million euro transfer to Italian Serie A club Roma.
