Fernandez

Argentina international Enzo Fernandez signs for Manchester City in a deal from Chelsea worth 125 million pounds ($169m).

Manchester City equalled the British transfer fee record for a player when they signed midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea on deadline day for deals in Europe.

The 25-year-old Argentina international, who was part of his country’s team that reached the 2026 World Cup final, had long been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.

The deal, however, was stretched to the final few minutes of the summer transfer window, which shut at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday.

City confirmed the deal with a video on the social media platform X, with the fee matching the 125 million pounds ($169m) that Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer.

The deal seemed to have been agreed upon between the clubs hours before the window shut, allowing for the player to complete a medical, but doubts about the deal started to emerge with the clock ticking on the deadline.

Fernandez himself had taken to his Instagram page ahead of the deadline on Tuesday to bid farewell to Chelsea fans.

“I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven’t been in a good place,” Fernandez wrote in a message directed to fans of the London club.

“Three years ago, Cobham [the club’s training ground] and Stamford Bridge became home for me and my family.

“Believe me when I say that, from the moment I arrived, I became obsessed with winning and with bringing this club every trophy that its history deserves.

“We suffered, we cried, I got angry many times, but we also celebrated titles and unforgettable victories. Together, through the good times and the difficult ones.”

Fernandez was part of the Chelsea side that won the UEFA Conference League in 2025 before going on to claim the expanded FIFA Club World Cup that year.

City boss Enzo Maresca worked with Fernandez at Chelsea before taking on the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola at the Etihad.

The Italian was a driving force behind the deal to land Fernandez after the recent sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, as well as the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.

The 25-year-old will partner with England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in City’s revamped central midfield at a cost of more than 300 million pounds ($405.4m).

“Every player wants to be part of a club like this, because everyone knows how well-run City are,” said Fernandez in his statement released by City upon completion of the deal.

“This is a club built for success. If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player.”

Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica for 106 million pounds ($143.2m) in 2023, angered the Blues last season by expressing interest in joining Real Madrid, and was dropped for two matches as a result.

He scored twice in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, including a stunning strike against England in the semifinal.

But his tournament ended with a red card in the final as Argentina were beaten 1-0 to miss out on retaining their status as world champions.

“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious, and a goalscorer,” said City’s director of football Hugo Viana.

“To have played in two World Cup finals and won major trophies in multiple countries at just 25 says everything you need to know about his mentality, professionalism and technical quality.

“We are delighted to bring him here, and feel very strongly he will improve our team.”

Aston Villa make a move for Jean-Philippe Mateta and Nicolas Jackson, Manchester United eye a promising defender, and Manchester City aren’t ready to give up on signing Enzo Fernandez.

Aston Villa have made an offer for Crystal Palace and France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, 29, though it falls well below the London club’s valuation. (The Athletic – subscription required), external

Villa are also on the verge of agreeing a €70m (£59.8m) deal to sign Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 25. (Foot Mercato – in French), external

Manchester United are considering making contact with VfB Stuttgart over a potential move for 20-year-old German defender Finn Jeltsch. (Caught Offside), external

Manchester City will submit a formal offer to Chelsea for Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 25, before the end of the transfer window. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Tottenham could hijack Napoli’s pursuit of Marseille and Algeria winger Amine Gouiri, 26. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Newcastle will submit a final offer worth €60m (£51m) for Lille and Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo, 21. (Sacha Tavolieri), external

Leeds United and Crystal Palace have registered an interest in Everton and Ireland defender Jake O’Brien, 25. (Football insider), external

Nottingham Forest are in talks with Corinthians over a move for 20-year-old Brazil midfielder Andre. (Daily Mail – subscription only), external

Hull City have agreed a deal with Union Berlin to sign 21-year-old Ilyas Ansah. The deal for the German forward will total over €20m (£17.1m). (Fabrizio Romano), external

Manchester City are faced with an Enzo Fernandez premium, Chelsea winger Pedro Neto has no shortage of potential suitors, and Manchester United midfielder Bruno Fernandes is offered a huge salary increase.

Manchester City will have to pay Chelsea more than £120m to land Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez if they try to complete a deal in the final two weeks of the transfer window. (Telegraph – subscription required), external

Chelsea want close to £100m if they are to sell Portugal winger Pedro Neto, 26, this summer with Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal linked with a move. (Mail – subscription required), external

Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham are all also interested in Neto, who joined Chelsea for £54m from Wolves in 2024. (Metro), external

Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign Spain midfielder Marc Casado, 22, who Barcelona have put up for sale. (Sport – in Spanish), external

Despite Manchester United‘s reluctance to sell, Galatasaray have offered Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes £18.3m per season – double his current salary – to tempt him away from Old Trafford. (Telegraph – subscription required) , external

Liverpool are still keen to sign Paris St-Germain duo Bradley Barcola, 23, and Ibrahim Mbaye, 18, with a combined fee of £155m being mooted for the France winger and Senegal forward. (Teamtalk), external

Bayern Munich are confident of agreeing a new deal with England forward Harry Kane, 33, who is entering the final year of his contract. (Bild – in German), external

Como have made an offer to take Fiorentina and Italy forward Moise Kean, 26, on loan with an obligation to buy in a package worth £25m. (La Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian), external

Leeds have given Suriname striker Joel Piroe, 27, permission to travel to West Ham for a medical. (Sky Sports), external

AC Milan have agreed a £34m deal to sign Belgium winger Diego Moreira, 22, from Strasbourg. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external

Sao Paulo and West Ham are among the clubs taking an interest in 39-year-old former England forward Jamie Vardy, who is a free agent. (Talksport), external

Natasha Watley grew up dreaming about playing for the Atlanta Braves.

Sharlize Palacios wanted to suit up for her hometown San Diego Padres.

Megan Grant and Maya Brady thought softball would end after graduation.

The 2003 Honda Award winner. A 2024 second-team All-American. The single-season NCAA home run record holder. And a freshman of the year honoree.

The Portland Cascade’s Megan Grant fields the ball during a game against the Oklahoma City Spark on July 4 in Edmond, Okla.

(Courtesy of AUSL)

All of whom never dreamed of being a professional softball player. Not because their love for the sport dwindled. Nor because professional routes were not an option. Pro softball leagues have existed since 1976, but they have lacked the visibility and accessibility imperative to flourishing and gaining popularity.

“From my experience growing up, and it’s the same amongst a lot of athletes that are my age, we didn’t have a lot of role models to look up to,” said Chicago Bandits outfielder Jessica Clements, who spent her senior season at UCLA in 2025. “We had Jennie Finch, Natasha Watley, Monica Abbott, but the odds of playing professionally were slim. There wasn’t a lot of opportunity, and a lot of younger kids were unsure of what the environment would look like in many years.”

That’s changing with AUSL, the Athletes Unlimited Softball League.

The AUSL — which launched in 2025 and builds off previous iterations of professional softball — saw a 181% increase in average viewership across ESPN platforms in one year, including a record-high 404,000 viewers for a June 21 game between the Portland Cascade and Texas Volts.

Among the 96 active players in the AUSL, 13 are former UCLA softball players — omitting two general managers, a head coach and an assistant coach that are a part of the AUSL and hail from the Westwood program — making UCLA the most well-represented school in the league. That pipeline was on full display this weekend at Texas A&M’s Davis Diamond, where the Utah Talons — who boast a roster with five former Bruins, including UCLA softball associate head coach Lisa Fernandez as the general manager — clinched their second straight AUSL title over the Chicago Bandits on Sunday. UCLA alum Jadelyn Allchin was named the AUSL championship MVP.

And UCLA softball’s presence in all facets of AUSL is no coincidence.

The Bruins feature 12 NCAA championships and 119 All-American honorees, both of which rank first all time, and that’s not including an AIAW title and one All-American before the NCAA era. But while the program is known for its accolades, the influence UCLA and its players have made on the sport stretches far beyond any banners or trophies.

“When you look at the history of softball in the last 40 years, you can’t see a U.S. national team, any pro venture or excellence at any level of softball without having an influence of UCLA in it,” said Oklahoma City Sparks general manager Kirk Walker, who spent 24 years coaching as an assistant coach in Westwood.

There have been only three coaches — Sharron Backus, Sue Enquist and Kelly Inouye-Perez — in UCLA history, all of whom created unparalleled success and a program built on a standard of excellence and a familial culture. But no aspect of the UCLA culture may be more significant than the “Bruin Bubble” — a concept at the very heart of the program centered on alumni involvement.

“It comes from the women who were there from the beginning, paving the way for players like us and players that are to come,” said Sparks infielder Delanie Wisz, who competed at UCLA from 2020 to 2022. “The idea of the ‘Bruin Bubble’ and buying into something bigger than yourself, coach Sue Enquist, coach Sharron Backus and coach Inouye-Perez have done a really good job of keeping that at the forefront, and making sure that we’re playing for something much bigger than any individual award.”

While the childhood aspirations of the Bruins in the AUSL never reached the height of professional softball, a common goal connected them all — playing for their dream school in Westwood and learning from individuals who have achieved immeasurable success greater than any record or championship.

Utah Talons General Manager Lisa Fernandez shows off her 2025 AUSL championship ring in Salt Lake City, Utah.

(Courtesy of AUSL)

Backus and Enquist set the foundation for what softball is today, paving the way for new opportunities by sacrificing for the greater good of softball’s future.

While the duo set the trail ablaze, they have passed the baton to a trio of coaches — Inouye-Perez, Walker and Fernandez, who have spent a combined 72 years in Westwood.

And the group has not stopped running since.

The Bruins are not only responsible for creating the next generation of pro softball players through the UCLA program, but also furthering the message and mission of Backus and Enquist.

“From when I was in college to now, there’s been a big shift in how things go,” said Rachel Garcia, two-time Honda Cup winner at UCLA and a Volts pitcher in the AUSL, “but at the end of the day, Lisa Fernandez, Kelly Inouye-Perez, Kirk Walker, that would be who I’d want to play for every single day, because I know that they are able to give the girls what they need in order to perform at the best that they can be.”

While Inouye-Perez continues to steer the Bruin ship, Walker and Fernandez serve in general manager roles for the Sparks and Talons, respectively.

The Utah Talons’ Jordan Woolery fields the ball during a July 11 AUSL game against the Oklahoma City Spark in Edmond, Okla.

(Morgan Givens / AUSL)

Grant emphasized that all three coaches could easily walk away because of the imprint they left and the resume they built. Yet, Inouye-Perez and Fernandez not only chose to stick around the game, but to reinvest their time in furthering the league and sport altogether.

“I accept the responsibility to help carry the torch and move it forward, and hand it off to the Jennie Finches and the Cat Ostermans,” Fernandez said. “They’re going to hand it off to the next generation that are going to continue to build this game and hopefully it’ll become something where little girls can go, ‘I’m going to be a professional softball player, and be a role model for those who have the opportunity to watch me.’ And at the end of the day that’s the true value.”

Integral to pushing the game forward is taking advantage of the traction and momentum gained by the 2028 Summer Olympics, where softball will return to the stage for the first time since 2021.

Fernandez highlighted that when softball was added to the Olympics in 1996, it was the pinnacle of the sport. But when it was removed following 2008 because the IOC didn’t see enough global competition for the gold medal, she felt that she failed. It was a setback that inspired her push to get the sport to a place where it did not have to rely on the host country to include it among Olympic events.

“A mission that’s close to my heart is the growth of the sport globally because it is so important for it to be in the Olympics, not just in 2028 but in 2032,” said Talons pitcher Megan Faraimo, who competed at UCLA from 2019 to 2023. “I don’t want to be the last generation to make it into the Olympics. I want to protect the future of everyone coming after me, and that means capitalizing on it being in L.A. We can use that to then push the sport into 2032 and hopefully get back on that Olympic rhythm.”

Real Madrid open to selling Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United, Arsenal eye John Stones and Ezri Konsa, Chelsea favourites for Kerim Alajbegovic, Yan Diomande back on radar of Premier League clubs and Daizen Maeda set for Ipswich Town move.

La Liga giants Real Madrid are open to selling 26-year-old France defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to Manchester United. (Sun, external)

AS Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone, 25, and Brighton‘s 22-year-old Cameroon international Carlos Baleba are also being considered by Manchester United as they aim to strengthen their midfield. (Sky Sports), external

Bournemouth‘s 27-year-old United States midfielder Tyler Adams, valued at about £35m, is also an option for Michael Carrick’s side. (Mail, external)

Former Manchester City defender John Stones, 32, and 28-year-old Ezri Konsa of Aston Villa are among Arsenal targets as the Gunners turn to the England duo after an injury to France defender William Saliba, 25. (Sky Sports, external)

Chelsea are favourites to sign Bosnia-Herzegovina attacking midfielder Kerim Alajbegovic, 18, from Bayer Leverkusen, while Xabi Alonso’s side are also in talks with Crystal Palace to sell French centre-back Axel Disasi, 28. (Telegraph – subscription required, external)

Chelsea have also agreed a deal to sign 15-year-old American winger Benji Flowers from Major League Soccer side FC Dallas when he turns 18. (Athletic – subscription required, external)

Arsenal and Manchester City are among the clubs in a race to sign Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig, who previously rejected a £69m bid from Liverpool for the 19-year-old. (Bild – in German, external)

Arsenal‘s opening bid for Jeremy Monga rejected by Leicester, Liverpool ready to offer a package approaching £86m for Yan Diomande and Arsenal preparing bid for Bradley Barcola.

Arsenal have had their first bid for Leicester City and England Under-19 winger Jeremy Monga rejected – the 19-year-old one of the Gunners’ long-term targets for the summer. (Telegraph – subscription required) , external

Liverpool are ready to offer a package approaching 100m euros (£86m) for 19-year-old RB Leipzig and Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande. (Athletic – subscription required) , external

Arsenal are preparing a bid for Paris St-Germain and France winger Bradley Barcola, 23. (Independent) , external

Real Madrid are looking to continue their summer rebuild by signing a midfielder and a centre-back, with Chelsea and Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez, 25, being one of the options highly rated by the club. (ESPN) , external

RB Leipzig have made contact with Everton over 23-year-old France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry. (Times – subscription required) , external

The Toffees are yet to receive a formal offer for Barry, but if a bid arrives from German side RB Leipzig or any other club, Everton‘s football leadership group will decide how to proceed. (Liverpool Echo) , external

Tottenham are firmly in the mix to sign Anderlecht and Belgium midfielder Nathan De Cat, with Manchester United among the 17-year-old’s other admirers from the Premier League. (Teamtalk) , external

Liverpool have reignited their interest in 25-year-old Juventus and France midfielder Khephren Thuram. (Corriere dello Sport via Football Talk) , external

The Reds are also pursuing a central midfielder, centre-back and right-back after triggering 22-year-old Osasuna and Spain winger Victor Munoz’s 40m euro (£34.5m) release clause. (Football Insider) , external

Head coach Danny Rohl’s exit from Rangers, to be replaced with Heart of Midlothian’s Derek McInnes, appears to move closer as Barney Stewart is reportedly poised to be sold by Falkirk to West Bromwich Albion.

Contracts have been agreed for head coach Danny Rohl’s switch from Rangers to RB Salzburg and for Hearts’ Derek McInnes to arrive at Ibrox as his replacement, but talks are continuing about the German’s desire to take his backroom team with him. (Scottish Sun), external

Rangers are set to receive a £2m compensation fee when head coach Danny Rohl’s switch to RB Salzburg is completed. (The National), external

Senior Hearts officials will interview candidates this week as they prepare for head coach Derek McInnes’ departure for Rangers after compiling a shortlist and hope to make an appointment within 10 days. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Hearts officials have already held informal talks with head coach candidates from Britain and abroad as they prepare to appoint a new head coach ahead of the first-team reporting back to the Oriam on 25 June before flying out to Spain for a warm-weather training camp. (Hearts Standard), external

Motherwell are down to the final three candidates for their new manager and Gonçalo Feio, who took over at Tondela in March before their relegation from the Portuguese top flight, is among them but also has options in Portugal, Poland and Scandinavia. (Ben Jacobs on X), external

Former Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has agreed a deal to become Feyenoord head coach for a second time after leaving his role as Liverpool assistant. (Fabrizio Romano on X), external

Bayer Leverkusen have made fresh contact with Rangers amid interest in centre-back Emmanuel Fernandez, but there is significant other interest in the 24-year-old for whom the Ibrox club want at least £25m. (TeamTalk), external

Bailey Rice has agreed a new contract with Rangers and will put pen to paper later this week despite interest from Ajax, Schalke, Leeds United, Nottingham Forrest and West Ham United in the 19-year-old midfielder. (Daily Record), external

West Bromwich Albion are close to finalising the seven-figure signing of 22-year-old striker Barney Stewart from Falkirk. (Daily Record), external