Chelsea complete Enzo Fernandez signing on deadline day, Man Utd confirm Marcel Sabitzer loan
Chelsea’s pursuit of Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez went down to the wire on deadline day, after Arsenal completed the signing of Blues midfielder Jorginho
Chelsea have completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez for £106m, in what is a British transfer record. The Blues met Benfica’s release clause for the Argentina midfielder shortly before Tuesday’s 11pm transfer deadline.
A statement from the Portuguese side confirmed the deal past midnight after Chelsea rushed to complete the transfer.
It came after Manchester United signed Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich until the end of the season. The Austria international adds to United’s midfield options after Christian Eriksen was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury.
Brighton held on to midfielder Moises Caicedo, but Arsenal turned their attention to another target and signed Jorginho from Premier League rivals Chelsea in a £13m deal.
Elsewhere, Tottenham confirmed the signing of right back Pedro Porro, with Matt Doherty joining Atletico Madrid on a free transfer after his contract with Spurs was terminated by mutual agreement.
Follow all the latest transfer news and rumours, below:
Hutchinson considers options
Chelsea teenager Omari Hutchinson is discussing loan options in the final hours of the transfer window with interest coming from the Championship.
The 19-year-old is deciding between moves to West Brom or Wigan, or whether to stay at Stamford Bridge and try to force his way into a team stacked with attacking talent.
Chelsea’s British record bid for Enzo Fernandez to enter final hours of window
Chelsea’s bid to sign Enzo Fernandez for a British record fee was set to enter the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday.
The proposed deal would make the Argentina World Cup winner the Premier League’s most expensive player, with Chelsea set to pay the reported 120 million euros (£105.6m) release clause to land the 22-year-old Benfica midfielder.
The previous British transfer record was set by Manchester City following the signing of Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for £100m in August 2021.
Reports have suggested that Chelsea club officials are in Lisbon to complete the deal, with Fernandez, who was left out of Benfica’s matchday squad for their Primeira Liga fixture at Arouca on Tuesday, set to have his medical in the Portuguese capital.
Chelsea’s British record bid for Enzo Fernandez to enter final hours of window
The current British transfer record is Manchester City’s £100million acquisition of Jack Grealish in 2021.
Ziyech wants PSG move
Negotiations are progressing slowly between Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea over a loan move for Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech. The French side are said to be growing frustrated with Chelsea as Ziyech pushes for the move.
Reports in France suggest that Ziyech has passed a medical and is now waiting for a breakthrough to be made in discussions.
West Brom sign Chalobah
West Brom have moved for Fulham’s Nathaniel Chalobah, getting their man.
Chalobah (28) helped the Cottagers return to the Premier League after spells with Watford and first club Chelsea.
Now he’s targeting a second successive promotion from the Championship but this time with the Baggies.
Dowie returns to Liverpool
Liverpool have re-signed striker Natasha Dowie on loan until the end of the season.
The 34-year-old has left Reading to rejoin her former side, where she played from 2012-15. During her first stint at Liverpool, she earned several honours including the FA Player’s Player of the Year and Women’s Super League top scorer in 2013.
Dowie has scored seven goals in 27 league games for Reading this season.
Arsenal fail with world record bid for Alessia Russo
Alessia Russo has remained a Manchester United player after Women’s Super League rivals Arsenal tried to sign the England striker before the transfer deadline.
The Gunners had been looking to bolster their attack and launched a big-money bid for Russo a few days ago.
That bid was rejected by United, as was a follow-up world record offer - reported to be just under £500,000 - and Russo was still a United player when the transfer window closed at 5pm on Tuesday.
That deal would have surpassed the £350,000-£400,000 initially thought to have been paid by Barcelona to sign England team-mate Keira Walsh from Manchester City in September.
Marcel Sabitzer: Manchester United agree to sign Bayern Munich midfielder on loan
Manchester United have agreed a deal to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan until the end of the season.
The Austria international was seen arriving at Munich airport on Monday evening and is set to fly to Manchester ahead of the deadline day move.
The Independent understands United will have the option to sign Sabitzer on a permanent transfer following his loan spell.
United acted swiftly to add to their midfield options after Christian Eriksen was ruled out for three months with an ankle injury, with Bayern open to the deal.
Llorente leaves Leeds
Leeds defender Diego Llorente has joined Italian side Roma on loan for the rest of the season with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
That should be it in terms of transfer business for Leeds but there are rumours concerning Jack Harrison which may not go away until the window shuts.
Forest reignite loan move for Navas
Nottingham Forest have returned to the negotiating table with PSG to try to sort a last minute loan deal for Keylor Navas. The goalkeeper is keen on the move and wants to play in the Premier League.
The deal appeared dead due to financial demands but there is a possible compromise over his wages being discussed between the clubs. Navas is still in France, but there is a chance that a loan for the rest of the season can be agreed.
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