Breaking the British transfer record for a 22-year-old who has played just 17 domestic games in Europe might seem a risk.
But Chelsea's new-look recruitment team have done extensive work to look at what Fernandez will bring and are convinced they have signed one of the best in the world.
They have seen his size, running power, aggressiveness and huge passing range. Fernandez likes to stick to central positions but can drift into attacking areas, where he is dangerous with his crossing or shooting from range.
Fernandez is ready to immediately replace Jorginho, an experienced player renowned for being one of the best tempo-setting midfielders around.
Like the rest of Argentina, former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero celebrated wildly watching his compatriot Fernandez help Argentina win the World Cup.
He was named the best young player at the tournament in Qatar and Caballero, now at Southampton, is confident Fernandez will make a big impact in English football.
This story is from the February 01, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
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This story is from the February 01, 2023 edition of Evening Standard.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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