Premier League clubs shattered the record for spending in a single transfer window, surpassing 3.1 billion pounds ($4.2 billion), as Manchester City led a frantic final day with the 125 million-pound signing of Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea.
City drove the late spending spree as they look to equip manager Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of ending the club’s wait for another Premier League title after two seasons without the trophy.
Fernandez, who previously flourished under Maresca at Chelsea, had been linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium for months.
But negotiations went down to the final hours of the window, with an agreement for the 25-year-old World Cup winner reached shortly before the 10 p.m. GMT deadline Tuesday.
The fee for the Argentine reportedly matched the British transfer record of 125 million pounds that Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak a year ago.
It took the total spending by Premier League clubs during the window to an eye-watering 3.46 billion pounds.
Fernandez will form part of a new-look City midfield that has cost more than 325 million pounds, alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi.
“He is a complete midfielder: technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer,” City director of football Hugo Viana said.
City also signed Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye in a deal worth 65 million pounds, taking the Manchester club’s summer spending past 450 million pounds.
“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” the 26-year-old 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’s bid to replace Fernandez with Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsed, while Everton were frustrated in their pursuit of another Monaco player, United States striker Folarin Balogun, after a 40 million-pound deal fell through at the last minute.
But the Merseyside club secured Jack Grealish on loan after his spell with David Moyes’ team last season.
Chelsea did agree to sign 18-year-old Honest Ahanor from Atalanta for 40 million pounds, with the Italy defender set to spend the season on loan at Crystal Palace before joining Chelsea in 2027.
Champions Arsenal had a quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez fizzled out.
The Gunners had been rivalling Barcelona for the Argentine’s signature, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill their need for a forward with the signing of Gabriel Jesus.
“I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it’s a dream for me,” Jesus said.
Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending 123 million pounds to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the Reds’ attempts to further strengthen their squad were frustrated when bids for Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh were rejected, meaning Cody Gakpo will stay at Anfield despite interest from City and Tottenham.
Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but the 18-year-old will be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.
Ibrahim Mbaye was another wide player linked with a move to Anfield, but he instead joined Aston Villa for a reported 47 million pounds.
Mbaye played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season as the French club won the Champions League and Ligue 1 title.
Villa also bolstered their defense by signing Southampton center back Taylor Harwood-Bellis for 29 million pounds.
Tottenham secured a loan deal for Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk after missing out on Ndiaye and Gakpo, and also acquired his Blues teammate Tosin Adarabioyo for 10 million pounds.
Newcastle landed Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a 51 million-pound swoop.
The Magpies, who are rebuilding following the close-season departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, have also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade on loan to Juventus.
