7 Interesting Facts About Enzo Fernandez You Should Probably Know.
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7 Interesting Facts About Enzo Fernandez You Should Probably Know.

Updated: Oct 8, 2023

Full Name: Enzo Jeremías Fernández

Date of Birth: 17 January 2001

Place of Birth: San Martín, Argentina

Height: 1.78m (5 ft 8 in)

Position: Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder

Current Team: Chelsea F.C.


Enzo Fernandez is one of the latest rising stars to join Chelsea's monumental rebuilding project, fueled by Todd Boehly and Co's infinitely deep pockets. Following an incredible World Cup run and eye-catching performances he is now among the highest-profile youngsters in the game.

In a matter of months, the talented Argentine midfielder has emerged from the lesser-known roots of his home nation, via the brief stepping stone of Portuguese football and on to the dizzy heights of the Premier League.

But many things about this South American are still unknown by domestic football fans in particular. There's plenty to learn about Stamford Bridges’ new arrival, who in an instant was launched from relative mediocrity and into becoming the most expensive signing in the history of the English game.


Here are 7 Interesting Facts About Enzo Fernandez You Should Probably Know.


1. He Was Named After A Uruguayan Legend

The origins of Enzo Fernandez's forename are quite curious and perhaps not what football fans might expect. That's because the Argentinian youngster was in fact named after a Uruguayan. His first name is actually inspired by three-time Copa America winner Enzo Francescoli.



It was Fernandez’s father - Raul, who despite being a patriotic Argentinian, had a deep fascination with Uruguayan football and in particular one of their aforementioned heroes Enzo Francescoli.

The legendary midfielder starred for Argentine side River Plate during the 1980s and 90s, making appearances at both the 1986 and 1990 World Cups in Mexico and Italy. Such was Raul Fernandez's admiration for the Uruguayan that he decided to give his son the same Christian name.


2. He Grew Up In Humble Surroundings

Despite his newfound global fame, Fernandez grew up in a working-class household within the extremely modest surroundings of San Martin, Argentina. His parents were both public sector workers, Father Raul grafting as a painter and his mother Martha was a cleaner.


From a young age, Fernandez had to work in poorly paid jobs along with his older siblings just to get by. Reportedly he considered leaving his dreams of becoming a footballer behind in order to support his family financially but luckily Fernandez’s parents insisted that he continue to pursue the career choice.


3. He Graduated From River Plate’s Famous Academy

River Plate’s Youth Academy is famed for its ability to produce a long line of outstanding Argentinian talents. Enzo Fernandez honed his skills alongside future teammates Julian Alvarez, Gonzalo Montiel, and Exequiel Palacios during his development within their youth system.

Following his graduation to River Plate’s first team, he made forty appearances across two seasons and provided an impressive ten-goal return, all from a deeper-lying midfield position. The celebrated River Plate Youth Academy has also famously produced a host of Argentinian legends including the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Javier Mascherano.


4. He Is Argentina’s Youngest Scorer Since Messi

Aged 21 years - 10 months and 13 days, Enzo Fernandez officially became the youngest player to score for his country since Lionel Messi back in 2006. Making an appearance as a substitute against Mexico, Fernandez scored the second goal of the game to seal an all-important victory for Argentina.


Oddly, he would also become the youngest Argentinian to score an own goal for his national side. At the World Cup 2022, during their 2-1 win over Australia in the round of 16, Fernandez accidentally diverted Craig Goodwin’s shot into his own net.


5. He Is The First Argentinian To Win This FIFA Award

First featured in 1958 and won by teenage Brazilian sensation Pele, Enzo Fernandez became only the seventeenth winner of the Fifa Young Player Award. The accolade is given to the young player judged to have been the finest performer across a particular World Cup tournament.


Fernandez is the first Argentinian and only the second South American to claim the individual trophy since its inception, following on from 20-year-old Peruvian Teofillo Cubillas back in 1970. The young Argentine is now part of an illustrious list of exceptional youngsters to claim the honour including Michael Owen, Paul Pogba, Thomas Muller and Kylian Mbappe.



6. He Is The Sixth Most Expensive Football Transfer Of All Time

Unbelievably, Fernandez is the 6th most expensive transfer of all time. What makes this statistic especially impressive is the company with which he keeps at the top of the all-time list and the circumstances surrounding his transfer.

At the top of the pile sits Neymar, the Brazilian’s transfer from Barcelona to PSG in 2017 costing the French side a whopping €222 million. The Qatari-owned club also currently holds claim to the second spot following Kylian Mbappe’s €180 million acquisition from Monaco a year later.


Enzo Fernandez’s fee is bettered only by Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho’s moves to Barcelona as well as Joao Felix’s transfer from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in 2019. The definitive factor in Fernandez’s price tag was undoubtedly his release clause. Former club Benfica had already put in place a minimum buyout of €121 million. So once Chelsea had agreed to meet this figure then the transfer to England was both unstoppable and inevitable.



7. His Value Increased By €100m In Just Six Months!

Enzo Fernandez’s increase in value over such a short period of time is almost unheard of, even amongst the crazy finances of the modern game and its spectacular and ludicrous spending habits!

The transfer itself is comparable to that of Joao Felix’s move from Benfica to La Liga’s Atletico Madrid. The Portuguese club had invested just €2 million in his graduation from Benfica’s B team to their senior side and yet would go on to sell the youngster to Diego Simeone’s club just a year later for a €125 million profit.


In the space of six months, following his impressive World Cup displays for Argentina, Benfica had turned Fernandez - a player who they’d bought from River Plate for an initial £8.8million (beating Premier League side Wolves to his signature in the process) into a star worth over €120 million!



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