Enzo, one of Chelsea's vice-captains and among their most experienced leaders, made his intentions clear. In the countdown to the summer 2026 transfer window closing, the club's board received two written transfer requests from Enzo. He also informed the club that he no longer felt any connection with his teammates at Stamford Bridge.

Enzo subsequently joined Manchester City for 125 million GBP (approximately 169 million USD) on the final day of the transfer window, becoming the most expensive player in English football history. Just before Enzo's first Manchester derby in his new colors on 13/9, new details surrounding the 25-year-old's departure from Chelsea were revealed by the Telegraph.

Enzo Fernandez (standing, far left) pictured at the Cobham training ground in London, England, with Chelsea players on 19/8. Photo: Chelsea

Chelsea had been determined not to be pressured into a lower price, maintaining their stance for an English record fee until the very last day, regardless of Enzo's desire to move to Manchester City. "The Blues" asserted that the midfielder, born in 2001, would not be permitted to leave if their valuation was not met.

With a resolve not to be undervalued, Chelsea initially priced the 25-year-old at 120 million GBP (approximately 162 million USD). They further increased their demands when Manchester City failed to submit an offer by the deadline the London club had set.

Chelsea had an opportunity to cancel the deal when the acquisition of Lamine Camara from AS Monaco fell through in the final hours of transfer deadline day. However, they decided to honor their commitment to Manchester City. The Telegraph also revealed that Chelsea felt compelled to sell Enzo due to concerns that his continued presence would lead to a negative atmosphere in the dressing room.

Before his move to Manchester City, a training ground photo posted on social media last month showed Enzo standing with a cold expression, clearly distanced from the rest of the smiling Chelsea squad. After the transfer was finalized, not one Chelsea player publicly wished Enzo good luck on his farewell Instagram post.

Chelsea had previously defended Enzo after he was filmed participating in chants deemed racist and homophobic towards members of the France national team while on international duty with Argentina in 2024. The player later apologized and voluntarily donated to an anti-discrimination charity.

He had proudly pointed to the FIFA Club World Cup winner's badge on his Chelsea shirt when scoring against PSG in the Champions League in France last March. Chelsea lost that match 2-5, and it was after a 0-3 defeat in the second leg that Enzo first publicly cast doubt on his future.

Enzo Fernandez celebrates after scoring in the PSG – Chelsea first leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Parc des Princes, Paris, France on 12/3. Photo: Shutterstock

Subsequently, Chelsea internally suspended him for two matches for an interview in which he stated his strong desire to live in Madrid, Spain, amid rumors of him wanting to join Real Madrid. This suspension led to his absence from the team's 0-3 defeat to Manchester City at Stamford Bridge.

When Maresca left his coaching role at Chelsea in early 2026, the Argentinian midfielder and the Italian coach frequently stayed in touch. Upon Maresca's appointment to manage Manchester City, he immediately identified his former player as a top transfer target for the summer. The star himself harbored a strong desire for a reunion.

Enzo's departure from Stamford Bridge bore many similarities to his exit from Benfica to join Chelsea in 2023. The Portuguese club was reportedly furious with his attitude during his departure, though a significant difference was that the midfielder then had a release clause and was not yet a leadership figure in the squad at 22 years old.

During the summer 2026 transfer window, Pedro Neto, who recently signed a contract extension with Chelsea until 2032, also attracted interest from Manchester City and Saudi Arabian clubs. However, the Portuguese player's actions were in stark contrast to Enzo's. Neto did not pressure for a move, instead choosing to stay and compete for a starting spot in coach Xabi Alonso's squad.

The winger has demonstrated leadership qualities in recent months and enjoyed an impressive start to the new season with goals against Leeds Utd and Brighton. Although his contract was valid until 2031, Chelsea awarded Neto a new contract extending to 2032 as a reward for his form, professional attitude, and loyalty.

Hoang Thong (according to Telegraph)