KEY POINTS

  • Chelsea spent $131 million for Enzo Fernandez
  • Fernandez joined Chelsea on an 8-and-a-half-year contract
  • He won the FIFA World Cup last year with Argentina

Chelsea boss Graham Potter has offered an update on his new signing Enzo Fernandez's possible Premier League debut.

Chelsea made a big-money signing on the deadline day of the January transfer window as they secured World Cup winner Fernandez from Benfica. Chelsea paid a Premier League record fee of around $131 million and landed the Argentinian central midfielder on an eight-and-a-half-year contract.

Potter, whose Chelsea are struggling in the 2022-23 campaign, is hoping to have Fernandez in time for their upcoming Premier League home game against Fulham. The match will take place on Friday at Stamford Bridge. However, Fernandez's Chelsea debut is subject to some pending paper works, the Chelsea head coach confirmed.

"We'll see. We've got to go through the paperwork and get the clearance and all that. I've spoken to him, he's an impressive young man. My Spanish isn't great and his English isn't great, but we'll get there. He is an impressive young man and we're looking forward to working with him," Potter told reporters.

Chelsea have managed just one win in their last five Premier League games. After making it to the final of both League Cup and FA Cup last season, the Blues have been eliminated from both competitions in the ongoing campaign.

Potter and Co. are alive in the Champions League as they are scheduled to lock horns with Borussia Dortmund in the Round of 16 later this month. Chelsea were on a spending spree during the winter window and they would hope to change their fortunes with the arrival of Fernandez and others.

Chelsea broke the British transfer record in signing World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez
AFP

The Argentina midfielder, who had not played for his country's senior side until September 2022, went on to be one of their best players in the FIFA World Cup in Qatar as Lionel Messi and Co. clinched the trophy after beating France in the final.

Fernandez made it to Argentina's starting XI from the final group stage game against Poland, as he went on to clinch the Young Player of the Tournament trophy.

Fernandez, who will wear the No. 5 shirt vacated by Jorginho following his move to London rivals Arsenal, said he was "excited to join the Pride of London."

"I'm happy and excited to join the Pride of London, to play in the best league in the world and to compete for the biggest trophies. I can't wait to play in front of our fans and help my teammates on and off the pitch," Fernandez said.

Soccer