Manchester City signs Enzo Fernández and Iliman Ndiaye on deadline day

Manchester City midfield overhaul under Enzo Maresca

Manchester City finalized the transfer of midfielder Enzo Fernández from Chelsea on 1 September 2026, agreeing a five-year contract through 2031. Valuation figures for the 25-year-old Argentine international range between 145 million euros (125 million pounds) and more than 150 million euros across reports. The Manchester club also signed Senegalese winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton on a five-year deal for a fee reported between 70 million and 76 million euros, while loaning Jack Grealish back to Everton. Speaking after completing the transfer, Fernández discussed his arrival at the club.

Manchester City is the most successful club in England in recent times. Any footballer wants to be part of an organization like this, because everyone knows how well structured and managed City is. I could not be happier to be here and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue lifting titles. This is a club built to succeed.

The moves concluded a full midfield restructuring under manager Enzo Maresca following Pep Guardiola's departure. City had previously added Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for 135 million euros and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille for between 95 million and 100 million euros. Those arrivals followed the departures of Bernardo Silva to Real Madrid, Rodri to Barcelona, Reijnders to Al-Qasidihyah, and Nico González to Newcastle. Sales of the latter three players generated 176 million euros in revenue.

Premier League and European market activity

Premier League club expenditure reached 3.8 billion euros during the 2026 summer window. Chelsea replaced Fernández by securing midfielder Lamine Camara from Monaco for 55 million euros. Aston Villa committed 55 million euros to acquire forward Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain.

Newcastle paid Lille 60 million euros for Belgian forward Matias Fernández-Pardo, while loaning Woltemade, who joined a year earlier for 90 million euros, to Juventus. In Italy, Como completed two deadline-day additions by signing Spanish goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and taking forward Moise Kean on loan for 10 million euros.

Spanish deadline deals and squad changes

In Spain, Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, paid RB Leipzig 125 million euros fixed plus 15 million in variables for Diomandé in early August, concluding the deal after Paris Saint-Germain held an initial pre-agreement. Barcelona acquired Rodri from Manchester City after negotiations between Real Madrid and City stalled. Forward Julián Álvarez remained at Atlético Madrid under Diego Simeone after missing training sessions, concluding talks with Barcelona and Arsenal. Atlético also added Canadian forward Jonathan David on loan from Juventus.

Midfielder Dani Ceballos agreed terms to rejoin Real Betis after rescinding his Real Madrid contract earlier in the summer, with the Seville club clearing wage margin on deadline day. Newly promoted Deportivo La Coruña, back in the top tier after eight years, secured midfielder Marc Casadó on loan from Barcelona. Casadó joins earlier Deportivo signings Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Adama Traoré, Angeliño, and Leo Román, while the club also negotiated for Atlético Madrid defender José María Giménez.