Enzo Fernandez staying at Chelsea as Alonso praises midfielder's attitude ahead of Fulham opener

Enzo Fernandez will not be leaving Chelsea this summer after the window for bids closed without a single formal offer, and head coach Xabi Alonso says the Argentine is ready for Monday's Premier League opener at Fulham.

Back in late May, Chelsea reached an agreement with Fernandez's agent, Javier Pastore, that the midfielder could leave for £120 million, provided any interested club tabled a bid by 14 August. That deadline came and went. No offer arrived, and Chelsea informed Fernandez's camp that the player is not for sale in this window. (BBC Sport)

Speaking at his Thursday news conference, Alonso was asked whether the 25-year-old would still be at Stamford Bridge — Chelsea's home ground — when the transfer window shuts on 1 September. "Enzo is a Chelsea player," he replied. "We are happy with him and he's getting ready for Monday." (BBC Sport)

The Athletic reported on the same day that Alonso did not definitively rule out the possibility of Fernandez leaving before the window closes, though his public message was firm. (The Athletic)

Fernandez returned to Chelsea's Cobham training base after Argentina's World Cup campaign, and Alonso has been encouraged by what he has seen. The midfielder has "integrated really well" since rejoining the group and is "training really well," according to his coach. "I see him with a really good attitude and that's what we want," Alonso added. (BBC Sport)

Fernandez arrived at Chelsea from Benfica in January 2023 for a then-British-record fee. A World Cup winner with Argentina at the 2022 tournament in Qatar, he has been a regular in the Chelsea midfield when fit, though his time in west London has not always been straightforward. The summer's exit agreement — a £120 million asking price with a firm deadline attached — suggested both club and player were open to a parting of ways.

No taker materialised. Whether that alters Fernandez's standing over the coming weeks depends on performances, and Alonso will hope a settled squad delivers a strong start. Chelsea travel across west London to face Fulham on Monday night, and all eyes will be on whether the Argentine starts.

For fans, the upshot is simple: Fernandez is a Chelsea player, the window for selling him has effectively closed, and the focus shifts to the pitch.