Chelsea Smash British Transfer Record to Sign Benfica’s Fernandez

Benfica's Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring their third goal during the Portuguese League soccer match between SL Benfica and Arouca FC at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, on Aug. 5, 2022. Pedro Nunes/Reuters

LONDON—Chelsea announced the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on Wednesday after days of complex negotiations between the clubs to secure the Argentina midfielder for a British transfer record 106.8 million pounds ($131.46 million).

As the deadline day approached its end on Tuesday, it appeared a deal might not be reached but a statement from Benfica confirmed that it had been done shortly before 2300 GMT.