Enzo Fernandez unveiled by Chelsea! Most expensive signing in Premier League history’s Blues squad number revealed

Chelsea have unveiled the signing of Enzo Fernandez in a deal which has set a new British transfer record.

The Premier League side have paid £106.8million to sign the Argentina World Cup winner from Benfica.

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Chelsea had been chasing Fernandez throughout the January transfer window and eventually got the deal over the line after being granted a one hour extension to get the paperwork in order beyond the 11pm deadline on Tuesday.

Benfica were first to announce the signing overnight and Chelsea confirmed Fernandez's capture on Wednesday morning.

Fernandez has signed an eight-and-a-half year deal at Stamford Bridge, in keeping with the club's policy this season of signing players on lengthy terms in order to spread their outgoings and remain within UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules.

The fee doubles the January deadline day record, which stood at £56m when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.

It also sees Fernandez surpass Jack Grealish - who cost Manchester City £100m in 2021 - as British football's most expensive signing.

Fernandez becomes the eighth signing of a frantic window for the Blues, with a total January spend by owner Todd Boehly of around £318m.

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A statement from Benfica read: "Benfica informs that it has reached an agreement with Chelsea FC for the sale of all the rights of the player Enzo Fernandez, for an amount of €121m."

And the Blues confirmed it on their side on Wednesday morning with a short video titled 'Enzo Fernandez is a Blue', along with a fire emoji.

The player has since travelled to London where he posed with a Chelsea shirt, which revealed he'll be wearing the no.5 jersey, previously worn by now Arsenal midfielder Jorginho.

“I am so grateful to Chelsea and its ownership for doing everything they could to make me a part of this project," Fernandez said.

“I’m happy and excited to join the pride of London.”

Fernandez only joined Benfica last summer for a fee just under £9million. His former club River Plate will be due a 25 per cent sell-on fee.

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Chelsea had previously teased an official announcement was imminent by placing an Argentina flag and a trophy emoji to signify a World Cup in their Twitter bio.

It caps off a very busy transfer window for Chelsea, who have made eight signings in January.

Earlier in January, they signed Ukraine forward Mykhailo Murdyk, beating Arsenal to the £88m signing.

They spent £30m on England youth star Noni Madueke, £35m on defender Beniot Badiashile from Monaco and a further £31m on young Lyon defender Malo Gusto.

More modest fees were spent David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos as well as the loan signing of Joao Felix on loan from Atletico Madrid.