Enzo Fernandez debut date update as Chelsea wait on clearance for £106.8m signing

Nizaar Kinsella
·2 min read
Enzo Fernandez debut date update as Chelsea wait on clearance for £106.8m signing

Chelsea manager Graham Potter is unsure if club-record signing Enzo Fernandez can make his debut against Fulham on Friday night.

The 22-year-old Argentine was finally unveiled on Wednesday after Chelsea wrapped up a stunning £106.8million deadline-day deal with Benfica the previous evening.

Fernandez could be thrown straight into action tomorrow in the west London derby at Stamford Bridge, but the club is waiting on clearance before he can play.

Asked if a debut on Friday was possible for Fernandez, Potter said: "We will see. We have to get through the paperwork, he's got to make sure he gets the clearance and all that.

Enzo Fernandez was unveiled on Wednesday. (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Enzo Fernandez was unveiled on Wednesday. (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

"I've spoken to him, he's an impressive young man. My Spanish isn't great, and his English isn't great, so we needed a translator, but we will get there.

"I'm looking forward to working with him."

Potter added: "I found out when it's done and I'm very, very pleased because we've got a fantastic player and I'm very glad to be working with him."

Should Fernandez get the all-clear to play, he will be joining the likes of returning injured quartet Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Raheem Sterling and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Potter added: [They] are in the squad, not able to play 90 minutes but they are in the squad. Wesley [Fofana] is training with the squad but he will step up. We're still without the others."

Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante, Christian Pulisic, Armando Broja and Denis Zakaria remain sidelined.

Hakim Ziyech is also expected to be in the squad after missing out on a loan switch to Paris Saint-Germain in the dying hours of the transfer window.

PSG are understood to be privately blaming Chelsea for sending incorrect documents three times as the agreement broke down, leaving Ziyech to return to Chelsea to see out the season.

Potter said: "He is back in the country and trained this morning. It won't be the first or last time this happens. He is a professional. He will be an important player and is in the squad to face Fulham."

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