Argentine · San Martín, Argentina · Born 17 January 2001World Cup Best Young Player winner at 21 — the most expensive British transfer ever.
Enzo Julián Fernández was born in San Martín, Buenos Aires in 2001. River Plate developed him before Benfica paid £10 million and Chelsea paid £106.8 million in January 2023 — the most expensive transfer in British football history and the most expensive winter transfer in Premier League history. He won the World Cup Best Young Player award in 2022 — performing beyond his years at 21 in Argentina's triumph. He won the Copa América in 2024. His combination of pressing intensity, box-to-box energy and long-range shooting made him one of the most complete young midfielders in world football. Chelsea's £106.8 million investment faced scrutiny during a mixed first full season — though his performances individually were often excellent within a chaotic squad. He was involved in a controversy in June 2024 when footage of him and teammates singing a racist chant about the French national team was published, for which he publicly apologised. He is named after Enzo Francescoli — the Uruguayan idol of Diego Maradona.
Winning FIFA World Cup Young Player Award at Qatar 2022
How They Played
Box-to-box midfielder with excellent passing range and work rate
Lasting Impact
Despite his young age, Fernández has already established himself as one of the most promising midfielders of his generation. His World Cup performance and record transfer fee have positioned him as a key figure in both Argentine and European football.
Career Honours
- World Cup (2022)
- Copa América (2024)
- Champions League finalist (2023 loan)
- FIFA World Cup Young Player Award 2022
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| River Plate | 2019–2022 | £10m | 40 | 10 |
| Defensa y Justicia | 2020–2021 | loan | 14 | 0 |
| Benfica | 2022–2023 | £10m | 17 | 1 |
| Chelsea | 2023–Present | £106.8m | 118 | 19 |
 Argentina | — | — | 44 | 4 |
Argentine Athletes