What Joao Felix said about Enzo Fernandez’s price tag when he signed for Chelsea in 2023, his prediction is slowly coming true

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Enzo Fernandez has carried a lot of expectation on his shoulders ever since he joined Chelsea over two years ago.

In the 2023 January transfer window, Chelsea completed the signing of Enzo Fernandez from Benfica.

The Blues paid a gigantic £107m fee (BBC) to sign the midfield star who had helped Argentina win the World Cup a month before in the 2022 edition in Qatar.

At the age of 24, Fernandez is already one of the senior members in the Blues squad. In fact, he’s one of the individuals in Chelsea’s leadership group this season.

Even though there has been a lot of change in the last couple of years at Stamford Bridge, Fernandez has been one of the constants in the centre of the park.

• READ MORE: Enzo Fernandez has accomplished something in the Premier League this season that not even Mohamed Salah has managed

Joao Felix predicted big things for Enzo Fernandez when he joined Chelsea

Chelsea-owned attacker Joao Felix, who’s currently on loan at AC Milan, was in the Blues dressing room when Fernandez walked into it.

At the time, Felix immediately voiced his support for Fernandez, insisting that he could merit the huge transfer valuation. He backed him to grow into an elite central midfielder with his obvious talent, too.

Speaking in February 2023, Felix told AS: “It’s becoming more and more common for such sums to be paid. Football has changed, and it’s going to be common to see amounts of 80, 90, 100, 110 million euros…

“He deserves the money because he’s a young player, he’s very good, and he has plenty of room to develop. He’ll surely become one of the best central midfielders in Europe.”

While Felix may have immediately backed the Fernandez transfer, it feels like he’s been fighting since to prove a lot of doubters wrong. It comes with the territory because of the mammoth price tag.

Blues co-owner Todd Boehly pushed Chelsea to sign Fernandez in the aftermath of his World Cup success.

It’s taken a bit of time for the South American star to consistently hit top form, but it feels like we’re now seeing that happen a couple of years later.

Enzo Fernandez is growing into elite midfielder

At the current rate, Fernandez will soon belong in the conversation alongside some of the best central midfielders around. He’s really starting to thrive in a box-to-box midfield role, where he offer so much both offensively and defensively.

His form at Chelsea has been superb in 2025, standing out when other teammates are struggling. Also, Fernandez was outstanding for Argentina during March’s international break, starring in a 4-1 victory over rivals Brazil.

Fernandez can really elevate himself to the top bracket of midfielder by scoring and assisting more, which he’s slowly beginning to do.

Felix predicted Fernandez would be one of Europe’s top midfielders. We’re now starting to see that prediction come true.