Premier League clubs have broken the record for spending in a single transfer window for the second consecutive season, with total expenditure approaching £3.5 billion ($4.7 billion) following Manchester City’s £125 million signing of Enzo Fernandez.
Spending surged during a frantic final two days of the summer transfer window, which closed at 22:00 GMT on Tuesday, comfortably surpassing last season’s record of £3.14 billion.
More than half of the clubs in the English top flight also broke their individual transfer records, while several deals exceeded the £100 million mark.
Fernandez, 25, completed his move from Chelsea to Manchester City late on Tuesday for £125 million, equalling the British record transfer fee paid by Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak 12 months ago.
The Argentina international is expected to form part of a revamped City midfield alongside England midfielder Elliot Anderson, who joined the club from Nottingham Forest for £116 million shortly after the World Cup.
City also completed the signing of Senegal forward Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a reported £65 million on Tuesday, taking the club’s total spending for the summer beyond £450 million.
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The spending spree comes as City begin a new era following the departure of Pep Guardiola, who guided the club through a decade of unprecedented success at the Etihad.
The squad has undergone a major overhaul, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri joining Barcelona, while long-serving stars Bernardo Silva and John Stones have also departed.
City’s director of football, Hugo Viana, said Fernandez was the type of player the club wanted as it sought to strengthen its squad.
“At Manchester City, we are always looking to bring in world-class players, and Enzo fits the bill,” Viana said.
“He is a complete midfielder, technically gifted, hardworking, tenacious and a goalscorer.”
Fernandez, who was sent off during Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain in July, said he was delighted to join the club.
“Every player wants to be part of a club like this,” he said.
