Chelsea FC have just completed the transfer of World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez from SL Benfica for a Premier League record fee of £105 million.
After impressing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Enzo was on the radar of many top European clubs, but it was Chelsea who could match the midfielder’s release clause on deadline day.
The Argentine prospect is a player full of potential, possessing the ability to dictate the tempo of the game, recycle possession, release accurate long passes, dribble with the ball, resist high pressure, protect the back line, and also find the top corner, as he did against Mexico.
These abilities, among others, may justify his record-breaking price tag, but a few will be worried after looking up the list of players that clubs have broken the bank for over the years.
Here is the list of the most expensive Premier League arrivals in history prior to Enzo Fernandez’s record fee.
JACK GREALISH
The Englishman became the first ever player to cost more than £100 million in the Premier League. Many tipped the new City No. 10 to be one of the most important players in the team, but he struggled to fit in last season. In 2022-23, much was expected of the English international given that he had put his adjustment season behind him, but his football was still too predictable and slowed down the game. Fans and pundits alike expected much more directness and threat from the playmaker. However, the manager seemed not to lose trust in him, and it seems to pay off as, post-World Cup, Grealish is finally getting more assists and is showing more tenacity when taking on defenders. It remains to be seen whether he is a player worth £100 million, as the first 18 months of his career in Manchester have not justified the price tag.
ROMELU LUKAKU
Well, big money transfers don’t get as bad as Romelu Lukaku, who failed to justify his price tag twice. First, Manchester United paid €84.7 million for the Belgian center-forward, which was a record for a striker in the Premier League. It wasn’t long before the striker fell out of favor at Old Trafford and was sold to Inter Milan, where he was back to his best, leading the Italian club to the Serie A title. His performances impressed his former club Chelsea, who smashed the British transfer record with £97 million to sign the Belgian. This transfer ended up being worse than the one to Manchester United and was already pleading to go back to Inter just a couple of months after forcing his way to Chelsea. is currently on loan at Inter, where he has failed to emulate the prowess he showed in his first stint.
PAUL POGBA
Back in 2016, Manchester United paid €105 million to Juventus to bring back midfield sensation Paul Pogba, who left the club in 2012. His British transfer record lasted for half a decade, up until 2021. The passing genius was the talismanic presence that Manchester United wanted to build the team around. That seemed to be the case in his first season, as he was vital for his side, which secured three titles under Jose Mourinho, including a UEFA Europa League title.
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However, in the following season, the World Cup winner was often criticized for his lack of consistency and desire. This caused him to fall out with manager Jose Mourinho and eventually with the hierarchy and fans. Upon the expiration of his contract, he left the club on a bitter note, returning to Juventus.
ANTHONY SANTOS
Following Eric Ten Hag’s move from Ajax to Manchester United, Anthony Santos was eager to join the Dutch manager at Old Trafford. Eventually, the Mancunian club landed the Brazilian for a deal worth €95 million. In his early days at the club, Anthony has notched five goals in all competitions but is yet to give out his best performances. He has been accused of being wasteful and ineffective with most of his wing play, with some labeling him a “YouTube freestyler.” However, it is very harsh to give the verdict of him being a flop only six months into his career in Manchester. It’s left to be seen whether he’s worth the money or just another player Manchester United have overpaid for.
HARRY MAGUIRE
With Manchester United’s defensive woes looming, the club decided to break the world record fee for a defender to solve their problems, as Liverpool did with Virgil Van Dijk. Harry Maguire was signed from Leicester City in 2019 for a deal worth €87 million. The ball-playing defender looked very promising as an unstoppable force at the back, but eventually, things did not work out for him. One defensive blunder after the other resulted in Manchester United looking elsewhere as they signed World Cup winner Raphael Varane and eventual World champion Lisandro Martinez, who have already shown their solidity at the back under Ten Hag. A move away from Old Trafford is likely in the summer for the English centre-back.
JADON SANCHO
It’s no surprise that a Manchester United signing features yet again on the list. In the summer of 2021, Jadon Sancho was finally a Red Devil for a deal worth €85 million after about two years of chasing for his signature. However, his time at the club so far has been one of ups and downs, with stints of brilliance sandwiched between underwhelming performances. Currently, he is recovering from an illness as he faces the daunting task of fighting his way back into the team given that Manchester United just spent big on Anthony Santos.
VIRGIL VAN DIJK
Well, if Chelsea FC’s new boy Enzo Fernandez is feeling a bit of pressure due to his price tag, he can gain some inspiration from Virgil Van Dijk. As far as justifying a large money transfer goes, Van Dijk is at the top of the list. Many questioned Liverpool for paying £75 million for a defender from Southampton, but the signing of Van Dijk for that amount feels like a bargain.
In his first years at the club, the Dutch defender quickly established himself as the leader of Liverpool’s defense and one of the best center-backs in Europe. His displays, which saw him change Liverpool’s defense from shaky to one of the best in the world, were as good as getting him a 2nd-place finish in the 2019 Ballon d’Or race, losing by the smallest margin in history. His influence on the club has drawn comparisons to Premier League legends like Rio Ferdinand, John Terry, and Nemanja Vidic.
WESLEY FOFANA
Following Antonio Rudiger’s departure to Real Madrid and with Thiago Silva not getting any younger, Chelsea needed to find a long-term solution to their defense. They turned to Midlands club Leicester City to sign their 21-year-old centre-back Wesley Fofana for a deal worth over €80 million. The youngster has, however, been so unfortunate so far in London, suffering a knee injury that has kept him out for most of this season. Chelsea FC will be hoping for him to get back to action as quickly as possible, given how poor they’ve been this season in the Premier league.
