The former River plate midfielder moved from Benfica to Chelsea for a record fee that placed him at the top of the list of the most expensive Argentine players in history.
The World Cup triumph by Argentina in Qatar on December 18, 2022, sent shockwaves through the transfer market. A historic move for a player born on Argentine soil followed in January, as Benfica received the expected bid and, matching the termination clause, Enzo Fernández became a Chelsea player. This transfer topped the ranking that had Gonzalo Higuaín at the summit since 2016, and it added another dramatic chapter to football finances.
Goal analyzes the principal figures in the most expensive transfers involving Argentine players.
The transfer values cited come from the specialized Transfermarkt database.
10 – JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON | FROM LAZIO TO MANCHESTER UNITED, 2001
In a football era with different economics, Verón’s move to Manchester United surpassed €42.6 million at the start of the 2001/02 season and broke expectations. Not long after, he would switch to Chelsea for a substantially lower sum.
9 – NICOLAS OTAMENDI | FROM VALENCIA TO MANCHESTER CITY, 2015
City paid €44.5 million to Valencia for Otamendi ahead of the 2015/16 season. The deal made the defender the most expensive Argentine at that time and elevated him into the upper echelon of global defenders.
8 – GIOVANI LO CELSO | FROM BETIS TO TOTTENHAM, 2020
Tottenham activated a €32 million option after a €16 million loan, bringing Lo Celso to north London for a total of €48 million in the operation.
7 – MAURO ICARDI | FROM INTER TO PSG, 2020
For the 2020/21 season Paris Saint-Germain paid Inter €50 million for Mauro Icardi, making headlines across Europe.
6 – CHRISTIAN ROMERO | FROM ATALANTA TO TOTTENHAM, 2021
After Copa America success with Argentina, Tottenham sealed the move of the Cordovan defender for €55 million ahead of the 2021/22 season.
5 – HERNAN CRESPO | FROM PARMA TO LAZIO, 2000
Valdanito arrived at Lazio at the start of the 2000/01 season for €63.81 million, a record fee at the time that kept him the most expensive Argentine for fourteen years.
4 – ANGEL DI MARIA | FROM MANCHESTER UNITED TO PSG, 2015
Within a year of his purchase, Fideo moved to Paris Saint-Germain for €63 million. The deal was extraordinary, and some felt it did not fully reflect his potential contributions for United.
3 – ANGEL DI MARIA | FROM REAL MADRID TO MANCHESTER UNITED, 2014
Fourteen years after Crespo’s record, Di Maria became the most costly Argentine transfer when he moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United for €75 million. The Rosarino faced challenges adapting to English football, and a year later United accepted a sizable loss.
2 – GONZALO HIGUAIN | FROM NAPOLI TO JUVENTUS, 2016
El Pipita stood as the most expensive Argentine player for six and a half years after paying his €90 million termination clause to join Juventus, where his performances were highly successful and widely discussed by fans.
1 – ENZO FERNANDEZ | FROM BENFICA TO CHELSEA, 2022
Exorbitant is a fitting word for a deal that propelled Chelsea near the top of the market. After a rapidly rising profile with River Plate in 2021, he moved to Benfica for €18 million, and within a short period his World Cup prominence translated into a €121 million termination clause payment, establishing him as the most expensive Argentine player in history and among the top transfers ever in European football. This landmark move highlighted how a single season of international success can redefine market value and national football prestige.
Source: Goal