Soccer-Chelsea smash British transfer record to sign Benfica's Fernandez

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Primeira Liga - Benfica v Sporting CP - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - January 15, 2023 Benfica's Enzo Fernandez during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Pedro Nunes

LONDON (Reuters) -Chelsea announced the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on Wednesday after days of complex negotiations between the clubs to secure the Argentina midfielder for a British transfer record 106.8 million pounds ($131.46 million).

As the deadline day approached its end on Tuesday, it appeared a deal might not be reached but a statement from Benfica confirmed that it had been done shortly before 2300 GMT.