Premier League Transfer Spending Hits Record £3.46bn as Man City Sign Enzo Fernandez, Iliman Ndiaye

Premier League clubs have smashed their previous transfer spending record after a dramatic deadline day pushed the total outlay for the summer window to a staggering £3.46 billion.

Manchester City led the final-day spending spree, completing the £125 million signing of Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez and adding Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye for £65 million. The moves took City’s summer expenditure beyond £450 million.

Fernandez’s move to the Etihad Stadium had been widely anticipated, with the 25-year-old Argentina World Cup winner having worked successfully with City boss Enzo Maresca during his time at Chelsea. However, the deal was only finalised in the closing hours before the transfer window shut at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday.

The £125 million fee reportedly matches the British transfer record set when Liverpool signed Alexander Isak a year ago. Fernandez is now expected to become a key part of a new-look Manchester City midfield that has cost more than £325 million, alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi.

City director of football Hugo Viana praised Fernandez after the deal was completed, describing him as a midfielder with a combination of technical quality, work rate, determination and goalscoring ability.

Ndiaye, meanwhile, arrives at City after a £65 million deal with Everton. The 26-year-old Senegal international said the transfer represented an opportunity he had worked towards throughout his career.

“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” Ndiaye said. “To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.”

Chelsea, Everton Suffer Deadline-Day Setbacks

Chelsea were unable to complete their planned move for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara after negotiations collapsed, leaving the Blues without their intended replacement for Fernandez.

Everton also saw a late attempt to sign Monaco forward Folarin Balogun fall through after a proposed £40 million deal for the United States striker broke down. The Merseyside club did, however, bring in Jack Grealish on loan following his spell with David Moyes’s side last season.

Chelsea still completed a deal for 18-year-old Atalanta defender Honest Ahanor worth £40 million, although the Italy youth international will spend the current season on loan at Crystal Palace.

Arsenal, Liverpool Miss Out

Premier League champions Arsenal had a relatively quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez failed to produce a deal.

The Gunners had been competing with Barcelona for the Argentina international, but Barcelona instead turned to Arsenal and completed the signing of Gabriel Jesus to strengthen their attack.

Liverpool had already made one of the biggest moves of the window by paying £123 million for France forward Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain. Their efforts to add further reinforcements were less successful, with Crystal Palace rejecting bids for Ismaila Sarr and Brighton refusing to sell Yankuba Minteh.

Those failed moves also mean Cody Gakpo will remain at Anfield despite reported interest from Manchester City and Tottenham.

Liverpool did sign Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but the 18-year-old will return to Genk on loan for the remainder of the season.

Villa, Tottenham and Newcastle Make Moves

Aston Villa strengthened their attack with the signing of PSG winger Ibrahim Mbaye for a reported £47 million. The 31-year-old featured 31 times for the French club last season as PSG won both the Champions League and Ligue 1.

Villa also added Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis for £29 million.

Tottenham secured a loan deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk after missing out on Ndiaye and Gakpo. Spurs also signed Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo for £10 million.

Newcastle United completed a £51 million deal for Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille as they continue to rebuild following the departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

The Magpies also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade to Juventus on loan, rounding off a busy period of squad changes across the Premier League.