Enzo Fernandez Told What He Must Now Do As Chelsea Transfer Deadline Passes | OneFootball

Enzo Fernandez is now expected to remain at Chelsea after the transfer deadline passed. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

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Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez’s future at Stamford Bridge should now be a lot clearer following a unique transfer deadline.

On Wednesday, Chelsea set a deadline: any club interested in the Argentina star had until 5pm (UK) on Friday to submit a £120 million take-it-or-leave-it offer that would meet Chelsea's asking price.

As far as hard deadlines go, Friday’s cut-off has now passed and, if the stance is to be believed, that should be case closed. Time will tell whether the deadline was fixed, but as far as Chelsea are concerned, the soap opera is over for the summer, at the very least.

It is understood that the verbal terms on the table, which were made available to Fernandez’s representatives for potential suitors back in May, are now off the table. The expectation now is that Fernandez will play for Chelsea for the 2026/27 season.

The flexibility around Friday’s deadline has yet to be truly put to the test. On Thursday afternoon, reports out of Argentina suggested that Manchester City had put £102 million on the table, a figure which fell below the £120 million set by Chelsea. Sources claim no bid was placed at all.

From a Chelsea perspective, the saga has dragged on for far too long. With the club appointing new manager Xabi Alonso in May on a four-year contract, any issues between Chelsea and Fernandez ideally would have been resolved before the Spaniard took charge on July 1.

It is understood that Chelsea do not want any distractions from the last year to become an issue during the forthcoming campaign. With a fresh start and a new man in the dugout, there is a sense that Chelsea set the deadline just seven days before the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season for that very reason.

After a disappointing campaign last season, finishing 10th in the Premier League and narrowly losing to Man City in the FA Cup final, the club knows that any distraction could be fatal in a campaign with high expectations.

With Fernandez set to stay, The Athletic have reported in recent days that Xabi Alonso would be ‘happy to have him in his plans’ at Stamford Bridge. Fernandez, who managed 15 goals and seven assists across all competitions last season, still has a lot to offer the Blues.

The 25-year-old has a habit of showing up in the right place at the right time during his time in west London. Back in early 2024, rumours emerged about a possible departure. Fernandez himself responded publicly to those reports before the Argentine scored a belter of a free-kick during Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup fourth-round replay victory over Aston Villa. Just days later, he found the net again in the 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Although it was a turbulent campaign last time out, Fernandez was arguably one of Chelsea’s most influential players. Despite losing 5-2 away to Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League, the attacking midfielder found himself on the scoresheet at a crucial time, as well as picking up an assist.

During Chelsea’s 1-0 victory over Leeds United in the semi-finals of the 2025/26 FA Cup, Fernandez was once again the key player on the pitch, scoring the winning goal while picking up the official Player of the Match award. The Premier League run-in saw him handed the captain’s armband while Reece James was nursing a hamstring injury. Fernandez scored the equaliser at Anfield in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool before finding the net in the 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge.

Many would say Fernandez has added to the turbulence at Stamford Bridge. Back in April, the club handed the midfielder a two-match suspension after comments praising the city of Madrid, which many interpreted as an indirect desire to play for Real Madrid.

Liam Rosenior, Chelsea’s head coach at the time, outlined his authority in a press conference ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup quarter-final against Port Vale. He said: “I think a line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build. So we had to make a sanction and that was a decision we've made.”

Javier Pastore, the Argentine’s agent, relit the fire at the end of the 2025/26 season in an interview with ESPN, saying: "We are looking at possibilities to leave Chelsea, but there is nothing firm or confirmed at any club."

As the saga looks to be heading towards its conclusion, Chelsea and Alonso’s focus will now be on getting the best out of one of the best midfielders in Europe. With 169 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, Fernandez still has plenty of leadership and ability to offer as the club looks for an immediate return to the Champions League. It's time for both to focus fully on on-the-field matters.

Chelsea and Alonso will hope this is the end of the saga, with attention now turning to Saturday’s friendly at home to Real Sociedad, before travelling to Craven Cottage on August 24 to take on Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.