Premier League clubs have surpassed their previous spending record of £3.1 billion in a single transfer window, as Manchester City spent £125 million to acquire Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea and signed Iliman Ndiaye from Everton.
City led the active spending phase on the final day, aiming to strengthen Enzo Maresca's squad so the team can win the Premier League title for the first time in three seasons. Fernandez, who previously performed successfully under Maresca at Chelsea, had been communicating about a potential move to the Etihad for months.
The agreement for the 25-year-old World Cup winner was reached in the final hours before the transfer window closed on Tuesday at 10 PM. The fee for the Argentine player reportedly matched the British transfer record of £125 million, which Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak a year ago.
This acquisition contributed to the total spending of Premier League clubs this window rising to an impressive £3.46 billion. Fernandez will become part of City's new midfield setup, which will cost over £325 million, alongside international player Elliot Anderson and Moroccan teenager Ayub Bouaddia.
City's sporting director Hugo Viana noted: 'He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious, and a goalscorer.'
Furthermore, City secured Senegalese forward Ndiaye in a deal worth £65 million, pushing the Manchester club's summer spending above £450 million. 26-year-old Ndiaye stated: 'I have worked my whole life for this opportunity. To be able to write my own chapter in history. It is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and I intend to seize it with both hands.'
Chelsea's attempt to replace Fernandez with Lamine Camara from Monaco failed, and Everton was disappointed over another Monaco player, Folarin Balogun, as the deal for the American striker for £40 million fell through at the last minute. However, the Merseyside club managed to secure Jack Grealish on loan after his performance with David Moyes' team last season.
'Chelsea' agreed to a £40 million deal to sign 18-year-old Honestah Akanji from Atalanta starting in 2027, with the Italian defender spending this season on loan at Crystal Palace. Champions Arsenal had a quiet transfer day after its attempts to sign Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid failed. 'La Argentina' competed with Barcelona for the signing of this Argentine, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill a forward need, signing Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus shared his feelings: 'I had a chance 10 years ago, and life took me in a different direction, but now I can be here, and it is a dream for me.'
'Liverpool' spent £123 million on French forward Bradley Barcola from PSG on Monday. However, the Reds' attempts to bolster the squad were halted by rejections of offers for Ismail Sarr from Crystal Palace and Yankuba Minteh from Brighton, meaning Cody Gakpo will remain at Anfield despite interest from City and Tottenham. Liverpool completed the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lukki Bregmans, but the 18-year-old player will be loaned to Genk until the end of the season.
Ibrahim Mbappe, another winger linked with a move to Anfield, instead joined Aston Villa for an estimated £47 million. Mbappe played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season, when the French club won the Champions League and Ligue 1 title. Villa also strengthened its defense by signing Southampton central defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis for £29 million.
'Tottenham' secured the loan of Chelsea winger Mikhail Mudryk after failing to sign Ndiaye and Gakpo, and also acquired teammate Tosine Adarabioyo from the Blues for £10 million. Newcastle signed Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a deal worth £51 million. The Magpies, recovering from the departure of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimarães, and Sandro Tonali at the end of the season, also sent German striker Nicolas Woltmadé on loan to Juventus.