For a long time, Chelsea -midfielder Enzo Fernandez struggled under the weight of his hefty price tag, but while he prepares himself on his former side Benfica on Saturday in the Club World Cup, he finally shows why the blues are splashing on him.
The 24-year-old helped two goals in the 3-0 victory of Chelsea over Esperance of Tunisia, who sent his team to the last 16 and a date with the Portuguese giants in Charlotte this weekend.
With England International Colmer, which is struggling for form, Fernandez has been the most important creative influence of Chelsea in recent months.
The Argentina star helped Londoners to be eligible for the Champions League by claiming fourth place in the Premier League and winning the Conference League in May.
After Real Betis took the lead in the final, Fernandez inspired the Chelsea comeback by obtaining their first goal in a possible 4-1 triumph in Poland.
In 2025, Fernandez scored and helped a total of 14 goals, with Pedro Neto the next highest producer at Enzo Maresca's Chelsea with nine, and Palmer left with eight, together with younger Tyrique George.
In addition to an impression on Esperance, Fernandez scored 2-0 opening in Chelsea's 2-0 opening in Atlanta against Los Angeles FC.
“My goal against Lafc was my eighth of the season. That's a good number, it's good in one season and I am grateful to God for this. But for me this is just the beginning,” Fernandez told the Chelsea website.
“I always want more, I always want to do better. If I can, I will help the team. This is always in my mind.
“That's why I work hard and try to improve, and with Enzo (Maresca) I play further ahead, what helped with my statistics. Next season, however, I want to score more goals and give more assists.”
Record signature
With the Chelsea team largely intertwined in the past two years, in February 2023 the arrival of Fernandez for a British transfer record compensation of £ 107 million makes one of the more experienced players.
“This responsibility is something I enjoy,” Fernandez, who arrived at Stamford Bridge at the back of his excellent 2022 World Cup versions when Argentina won the trophy.
“I try not to let it change how I perform on the field. For me I have to have the same mindset and keep the same attitude – hard work, do my utmost, be brave and do everything I can do to help the team.”
Later in 2023, Chelsea Moises Caicedo signed for a deal that could rise to £ 115 million and this summer Liverpool's relocation could cost them no less than £ 116 million for Florian Wirtz, making the pressure on Fernandez a bit facilitated.
Fernandez had only played 29 games for Benfica before Chelsea delved, after he arrived in Portugal from Boyhood Club River Plate.
After an inconsistent start of life in London, a hernia problem derailed the second half of his season 2023/24 and then in July 2024 he was criticized for singing an offensive song about France players with his Argentina teammates.
The midfielder has been associated with a possible departure from Chelsea, but coach Maresca insisted that the plan is that Fernandez remains.
“This season he has been very, very good. He can be even better from the first day next season,” said Maresca this week.
“So nothing to say about (the) speculation. He is aimed at us and that is the most important thing.”
Fernandez has set up a new arrival of Chelsea Liam Delap for his first goal in the victory over Esperance and gave the striker for the coming months.
“I spoke with Enzo and he told me that when he just lets the ball run,” Delap explains. “It was a great pass and luckily it went inside.”
Suspended with Nicolas Jackson, Delap will start again against Benfica and he now knows that he now gives him the ammunition one of the world's most in-form playmakers.