Enzo Fernandez Biography
Born on January 17, 2001, Enzo Jeremías Fernández, better known by his stage name Enzo, is a professional football player from Argentina who plays central midfield for Chelsea in the Premier League and for his country’s national team.
After graduating from River Plate’s academy, Fernández made his debut in the main squad in 2019 and then went on loan to Defensa y Justicia for two seasons. Before going back to River Plate in 2021, he had a great campaign there that resulted in him winning the Copa Sudamericana and Recopa Sudamericana.
Fernández became a key member of the team after his comeback, helping them win the Argentine Primera División in 2021. In the summer of 2022, he signed with Benfica in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. After just six months of action for Benfica, Chelsea of the Premier League acquired him in January 2023 for a British transfer record.
Prior to making his senior international debut, Fernández, an Argentine international, competed for his nation at the under-18 level. He competed for Argentina in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winning the Young Player Award and contributing significantly to his nation’s third-place victory.
Basic Information |
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| Stage Name: | Enzo Fernández |
| Real Name: | Enzo Jeremías Fernández |
| Occupation: | Professional Football Player |
| Date Of Birth/Age: | January 17, 2001 (22 Years Old |
| Place of Birth: | San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Gender: | Male |
| Nationality: | Argentine |
| Marital Status: | Valentina Cervantes (Wife) |
| Education: | River Plate |
Enzo Fernandez Age
On January 17, 2001, Enzo Fernández was born in San Martin, Buenos Aires, Argentina. On January 17, 2023, he celebrated turning 22.
Enzo Fernandez Height
Enzo Fernández stands 5.10 feet (1.78 meters) tall.
Enzo Fernandez Net Worth
The public is unaware of Enzo Fernández’s precise net worth estimation. Several sports news outlets estimate his net worth to be between $1.5 and $5 million. At Benfica, he was paid $2,650,000 a year, with a weekly take-home pay of $51,000. He presently wears the Nike Phantom GT2 and is sponsored by the brand.
By the end of the year, Enzo should be worth much more because of his new contract with Chelsea.
Enzo Fernandez Salary
Enzo Fernandez, a midfield player, was reportedly acquired by Chelsea for a British record £106.8 million from Benfica. The Argentine’s contract exceeded the £100 million that Manchester City had to pay Aston Villa for Jack Grealish. Enzo will spend eight and a half years at Stamford Bridge thanks to the agreement.
Enzo Fernandez Club career
River Plate
Early career
Raúl and Marta welcomed him into the world at San Martín, Buenos Aires. Fernández has four brothers: Seba, Rodri, Maxi, and Gonza. Before joining River Plate, he played football for a local team named Club La Recova, where he was first exposed to the game. The exact date of Fernández’s arrival at River Plate is unknown; in November 2019, he stated in an interview for the River Plate website that he joined the academy in 2005. In September 2020, the Argentine newspaper Clarín reported that he joined River in 2006. In an interview for the Chelsea website in February 2023, he stated that he was six years old when he joined, which would have most likely been in 2007.
After rising through the minor ranks, Marcelo Gallardo, the club’s manager, elevated him to the first squad on January 27, 2019, during a 3-1 Primera División home loss against Patronato, even though he was kept off the field. On March 4, 2020, he made his first-team debut, substituting for Santiago Sosa in the 75th minute of a 3-0 Copa Libertadores loss against L.D.U. Quito. He scored once in the 6-1 thumping of Libertad in the four games he played at the 2020 U-20 Copa Libertadores in Paraguay in the weeks before.
2020–21: Loan to Defensa y Justicia
Although Fernández was only occasionally played, his manager suggested that he go on loan from the team to further his career growth. Fernández was loaned to Defensa y Justicia, a fellow elite team, in August. On September 18, during the Copa Libertadores, he made his debut for the Halcón under manager Hernán Crespo, winning 3-0 against Delfín. Though he didn’t start off, his manager was impressed by his performances, and ultimately he gained a spot in the team. He helped the club win the 2020 Copa Sudamericana, starting in the final 3–0 victory over Lanús, another Argentine team, and earning his first professional trophy.
2021–22: First-team breakthrough
At the request of manager Marcelo Gallardo, Fernández returned to River Plate during the season after making an impression while on loan. On July 15, 2021, he played in the opening leg of the Copa Libertadores round-of-16, going 1-1 at home against Argentinos Juniors, another Argentine team. He started playing right away, and on August 14, he not only scored the team’s first goal but also contributed an assist in a 2-0 Primera División victory over Vélez Sarsfield.
He consented to a contract extension through 2025 on December 20. After he finished the 2022 season with eight goals and six assists in 19 games, Fernández was rated the finest active football player in Argentina. Several reputable European teams then sent scouts to watch him play.
Benfica
In June 2022, River Plate and Benfica, of the Primeira Liga, came to a deal for Fernández’s transfer. In exchange, River Plate would get €10 million for 75% of Fernández’s economic rights and an additional €8 million in add-ons. However, Fernández would stay at River Plate until the conclusion of the team’s Copa Libertadores campaign. On July 14, after River Plate’s elimination from the Copa Libertadores round of 16, Benfica confirmed the agreement, awarding Fernández the number 13 shirt that club great Eusébio had worn before.
On August 2, he made his club debut. In the first leg of the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, the team defeated Midtjylland 4–1, and he scored his first goal—a half-volley from outside the penalty area—to secure the victory. After that, he scored in Benfica’s next two games: a 4-0 Primeira Liga victory at home against Arouca and a 3-1 victory away against Midtjylland in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.
His outstanding play carried over into the month, and he was crowned the Primeira Liga’s Midfielder of the Month after a run of five straight victories and three clean sheets. This achievement was replicated in the months of October and November. In the January 2023 transfer window, he was rumored to be joining Chelsea, and the team insisted he wouldn’t be transferred for less than his €121 million release clause.
Chelsea
Fernández was acquired by Chelsea for a sum totaling £106.8 million on January 31, 2023, following the conclusion of negotiations between the two teams. He agreed to an eight and a half-year contract that would last through 2031. Leading the negotiations, which lasted over ten hours, was Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali. At the time, the amount paid by Chelsea was a British transfer record. Benfica was given an initial payment of £30 million, with five more installments to come.
On February 3, he played 90 minutes in his Premier League debut at home against Fulham. Enzo contributed an assist to the team’s lone goal in a 1-1 league tie against West Ham United on February 11. On August 30, 2023, he scored his first goal for Chelsea in a 2-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Cup’s second round.
Enzo Fernandez International career
Esteban Solari, the manager of Argentina U18s, chose Fernández on July 24, 2019, to represent his country at the 2019 COTIF Tournament in Spain. Lionel Scaloni, the manager of the Argentina national team, called him up on November 3, 2021, for the squad’s two 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Uruguay. On September 24, 2022, he made his senior team debut by replacing Leandro Paredes in the 64th minute of a 3-0 victory over Honduras.
He was included in Argentina’s 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 11. On November 26, after replacing Guido Rodríguez in the 57th minute, Fernández netted his first goal for his country, completing Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Mexico in the group stage. At 21 years, ten months, and thirteen days old, he did so to become the second-youngest player in history to score a goal for Argentina in the World Cup (just ahead of Lionel Messi).
In the round of sixteen match against Australia on December 3, he set a rather obscure record by becoming the youngest own goal scorer in Argentina’s history. Argentina won 2–1 thanks to his attempt to block Craig Goodwin’s shot deflecting into his team’s net. Fernández participated in the World Cup final match between Argentina and France, when Argentina won 4–2 on penalties after defeating Croatia 3-0 in the semifinals. He was recognized as the tournament’s best young player.
Enzo Fernandez Style of play
Fernández is a flexible midfielder who is good at recycling possession, stopping play, setting the pace, and disrupting it. He can also play as an offensive midfielder. Despite his preference for working centrally, he is often seen occupying the left half-space and receiving assistance from a defensive midfield partner, such as Florentino Luís, his former Benfica teammate.
Fernández can play lobbed balls, accurate long passes, and fast short passes. He defends his backline and spaces well, is aggressive in midfield duels, and has good passing range and vision. He is able to dribble both into and out of hazardous situations. He is press-resistant and does well receiving the ball in confined situations. He is skilled at playing through balls, breaking down defensive lines with passes, and recycling possession in the midfield. When Fernández is not in possession, he tries to anticipate and intercept passes, as well as actively disrupt opponent attacks.
Enzo Fernandez Personal life
Because of his father Raúl’s obsession with the Uruguayan, Fernández was named after three-time Copa América champion and former River Plate star Enzo Francescoli. He declared in an interview that Lionel Messi is his favorite player.
2020 will see the birth of Fernández’s daughter, Valentina Cervantes, a fellow Argentine. They revealed they were expecting their second child together in May 2023.
Enzo Fernandez Girlfriend/Wife
Valentina Cervantes is the spouse of Enzo Fernández. Valentina and Enzo have reportedly been dating since 2019, according to a report from The Sun. And Valentina is an elder by one year. Olivia, the couple’s young daughter, was born in 2020. There are rumors that they first crossed paths in Argentina when Valentina was pursuing her English teaching certification. After falling in love right away, they have been together ever since.
Valentina reportedly followed Enzo without question when he decided to join Benfica. To be with her partner, she moved to Portugal. There have also been rumors that she will follow him to the UK when he eventually joins Chelsea’s roster. Olivia, their stunning daughter, resides with the couple. Valentina regularly updates her social media pages with pictures of her stunning family.
Enzo Fernandez House
Enzo Fernández moved to Chelsea and is currently a resident of the United Kingdom. Nobody knows where he resides. He doesn’t share pictures of his home online.
Enzo Fernandez Cars
On social media, Enzo Fernández does not show off his possessions. All we have seen of him is getting into his car. View the picture below.
Enzo Fernández Awards & Nominations
Awards
- 2020 CONMEBOL Copa Sudamericana Squad of the Season
- 2022 Primeira Liga Midfielder of the Month: August 2022, October/November
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Young Player Award
Nominations
- 2022 SJPF Young Player of the Month: August 2022, October/November
- 2022 FIFA World Cup Dream Team of the Tournament
Enzo Fernández Social Media
- Instagram: @enzojfernandez
- Twitter: @enzo13Fernandez
- TikTok: @enzojfernandez24
@_fcmotivate 2 Things you didn’t know about Enzo Fernandez 🔵🔥 #enzofernandez #enzo #chelseafc #fyp #football
Where is Enzo Fernandez from?
Enzo Fernandez, who was born in January 2001 in San Martin, a town outside of Buenos Aires, signed with River Plate at the age of five after making an impression while playing for Club La Recova, his hometown team. This relocation at such an early age had special meaning for him because his father had named him after the great former River midfield player Enzo Francescoli.
What position does Enzo Fernandez play?
Growing up in River’s legendary academy, Fernandez was always a central midfielder. He was called up to the reserve squad early in 2019. Shortly after turning eighteen, he made his debut at that level and a few days later, he made another big step in his nascent senior career by joining River’s first team bench for their loss to Patronato.
Before giving him his River debut in a Copa Libertadores loss to LDU Quito in March 2020, River manager Marcelo Gallardo meticulously monitored his development. Gallardo soon suggested that Fernandez take a loan in order to get experience. He dutifully joined the Defensa y Justicia of Hernan Crespo.
Fernandez had great success during his nine months at a smaller club in Buenos Aires. He was able to adjust to the demanding nature of Argentine football at the highest level, working extra hours to strengthen his physicality after training.
On the field, he made a name for himself right away by displaying his technical skill under former Chelsea striker Crespo. His ability to recover in the middle of the park improved along with his fitness and flexibility, which matched Defensa y Justicia’s pressing style.
What trophies has Enzo Fernandez won?
The Copa Sudamericana, which is South America’s version of the Europa League, is where Fernandez and the Hawks’ star shone the brightest. In January 2021, he started both legs of a 4-2 aggregate semi-final victory over Coquimbo Unido of Chile. He then excelled against Argentine rivals Lanus in the championship match. With a 3-0 victory, Defensa y Justicia won their first championship in a decade and their first ever in a continental tournament.
Not too long after came another international victory. Fernandez participated in both legs of CONMEBOL’s equivalent of the UEFA Super Cup, the Recopa Sudamericana. Fernandez more than held his own as Defensa y Justicia overcame a 3-1 aggregate deficit to force the match to penalty kicks against Copa Libertadores champions Palmeiras. Fernandez used his to make no mistakes.
Due to Fernandez’s impressive performances, Gallardo terminated his early loan agreement, which was scheduled to last until December 2021. In July, he rejoined River, who were at the top of the standings, and immediately made the starting lineup.
In August 2021, Fernandez assisted in and scored his first goal for his boyhood club against Velez Sarsfield. With three games remaining, River became victorious in the league, with Fernandez making 15 total appearances. In the same year, he received his third winners’ medal.
Fernandez made his public debut in 2022, if 2021 was his breakthrough year in South American football.
His game advanced to a new level in the first half of the year. In 26 league and cup games for River, Fernandez netted 10 goals and provided six assists, solidifying his status as the box-to-box midfielder he had always desired.
His performances were obviously noted in Europe, and in the summer, after much speculation, he signed with Benfica, a team known for bringing in South American talent.
After turning 22 earlier this month, Fernandez quickly acclimated to his new environment. When paired with the more defensive-minded Florentino Luis in the double pivot, Fernandez’s inventiveness and perseverance have been particularly noticeable in the Liga Nos.
His efforts were so outstanding that in August, October, and November he was crowned the league’s finest midfield player. Fernandez played 24 times for Benfica before the World Cup, netting three goals and setting up five more as the Eagles won both the league and the European tournament. More on that later. Above PSG and Juventus, they emerged victorious from their Champions League group, with Fernandez looking perfectly comfortable in the elite league of Europe.
How many goals has Enzo Fernandez scored and how many games did he play for Benfica?
With 29 matches, four goals, and seven assists under his belt, he departs Benfica.
How many international caps does Enzo Fernandez have?
After being included in Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina team for two friendlies in September, Enzo earned his first two of ten caps for his nation by playing off the bench in victories against Honduras and Jamaica. A call-up to the World Cup was unavoidable.
After a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia, Fernandez’s substitution off the bench in Argentina’s second game in Qatar against Mexico proved crucial in igniting their team. After dummying past his defender, he scored an incredible goal on the angle to complete a 2-0 victory that Scaloni’s team never looked back from.
After starting the following match, Fernandez helped Argentina defeat Poland by setting up a goal for Julian Alvarez. He also didn’t miss a second of their incredible knockout run. Nestled at the base of Argentina’s midfield trio, Fernandez’s strategic insight, boundless enthusiasm, and technical skill not only contributed to La Albiceleste’s first international triumph since 1986, but also earned him the FIFA Young Player Award.
Fernandez’s tackle total was more than that of only two players, our own Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech, and his engine room pass completion percentage of 88% was higher than most. It makes sense why Lionel Messi called him a “spectacular” player.
How old is Enzo Fernandez?
Fernandez turned 22 years old recently; he was born on January 17, 2001.
How tall is Enzo Fernandez?
Enzo Fernandez is 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters.
What squad number does Enzo Fernandez wear?
The number five shirt, which was formerly owned by Jorginho before he transferred to Arsenal on transfer deadline day, will be worn by Fernandez. Fernandez most recently wore the number 13 shirt for Benfica.