Chelsea paid a British record fee of €121m to sign Enzo Fernández from Benfica in the winter market.
The Argentina international becomes the third midfielder to be added to the Blues’ squad after Carney Chukwuemeka and Denis Zakaria this season. The latter two arrived last summer, with Zakaria joining the west London club on loan from Juventus.
Prior to Zakaria’s arrival, Chelsea showed firm interest in signing other midfielders and this included Ajax star Edson Álvarez.
The Premier League side even made a bid for the 25-year-old but it was turned down by the Amsterdam club. The Mexico international, who was keen on joining Chelsea, has been a regular this season for Ajax, making 27 appearances in all competitions.
Although the player has overcome the disappointment of a failed move to Chelsea, he has admitted it wasn’t easy for him.
“I grieved for one day and then showed that I am a strong person. Of course, the disappointment lasted for a while, but I believe that everything happens for a reason,” he said, as quoted by De Telegraaf.
“Maybe it wasn’t the right time yet. My time will come, 100%. That is in God’s and my own hands. And I’m working hard to be ready for a new challenge.”
The 25-year-old has now publicly expressed his desire to leave Ajax at the end of this season.
“I came to Ajax to learn, to enjoy and to reach the next level. Of course, my focus is 100% on Ajax at the moment. But if something beautiful comes along next summer that is good for Ajax and for me, then I want to seize that opportunity,” Álvarez explained.
