Chelsea have agreed a deal worth £42 million to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United, marking one of the most high-profile Premier League transfers of the summer window.
The 21-year-old Argentina international, who was told by United head coach Ruben Amorim at the end of last season to find a new club, will become the fourth-most expensive outgoing in United’s history — behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku, and Angel Di Maria.
Sources at United confirmed that Chelsea’s initial offer was £25 million, but negotiations progressed quickly, with the final agreement including a 10% sell-on clause.
Garnacho, who joined United’s youth academy from Atletico Madrid in 2020, was considered one of the club’s brightest young talents. However, tensions with Amorim reportedly escalated last season, culminating in his absence from the starting lineup during the Europa League final loss to Tottenham. Garnacho later publicly questioned Amorim's selection decisions.
Despite being part of United’s post-season Asia tour, he was excluded from the summer pre-season trip to the U.S. and made to train separately, alongside other outcasts Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Marcus Rashford — the latter now on loan at Barcelona.
United's decision to sell Garnacho supports the club’s compliance with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), as he qualifies as a homegrown player. The revenue from his sale will be recorded as pure profit on the books, boosting their financial position after investing over £200 million on a new forward line of Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, and Bryan Mbeumo.
With Garnacho’s arrival, Chelsea’s expenditure on wingers alone under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital surpasses £500 million in just over three years — a staggering figure that rises above £650 million when including striker signings, all before add-ons.
However, Chelsea have been active on the sales front as well, aiming to meet UEFA’s Financial Fair Play requirements. In particular, UEFA’s imposed €31 million (£26.7m) fine and demand for a positive net transfer balance for Champions League eligibility have influenced the Blues’ aggressive sales strategy.
The imminent £32 million sale of Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan will push Chelsea’s total income from player sales this summer to at least £263.2 million, setting a new Premier League record for a single window. That surpasses their previous high of £215.9 million in 2023.
In addition to Nkunku, Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson is reportedly close to an initial loan move to Bayern Munich, with a potential obligation to buy, which could further boost Chelsea's transfer revenue.
Garnacho had long been a target for Chelsea, with initial discussions held as early as January. Despite United’s early £60 million valuation, the Argentine pushed for a move to Stamford Bridge, prioritizing it over other potential destinations.
Now set to begin a new chapter in London, Garnacho will look to reignite his career and fulfill his potential under Chelsea's project, while United continue their rebuild with a refreshed attacking lineup.
