Chelsea have agreed a £40million deal to sign Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho before Monday’s summer transfer deadline. The Blues finally look set to seal one of Enzo Maresca’s top targets following weeks of intense negotiations with their Premier League rivals.
Garnacho will sign a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge after rejecting strong interest from Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli and Saudi Pro League clubs. He is scheduled to undergo his Chelsea medical on Friday and could be unveiled during Saturday’s Premier League home match against Fulham.
United valued Garnacho at £50m, while Chelsea initially wanted to pay no more than £30m amid his exile from Ruben Amorim’s squad.
The clubs have since struck a compromise via a £40m fixed fee, and United have included a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal.
Garnacho is set to become Maresca’s ninth summer signing, following fellow wingers Jamie Gittens and Estevao through the arrivals suite.
The 21-year-old made 93 Premier League appearances for United after graduating from the club’s academy, scoring 16 goals and registering 10 assists.
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express MUFC newsletter, or join our WhatsApp community here.
He received the 2024 FIFA Puskas Award for his spectacular overhead kick against Everton in November 2023 and lifted the Carabao Cup and FA Cup under Erik ten Hag.
Garnacho to Chelsea is United’s biggest-ever sale when it comes to academy graduates, and that status means his £40m fee will represent pure profit on the books, a significant PSR boost.
It is the fourth-largest transfer fee received in the Red Devils’ long history after Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Angel Di Maria.
Garnacho will not be the last player to leave Old Trafford before the summer transfer window slams shut at 7pm on Monday.
For the latest breaking stories and headlines, sign up to our Daily Express transfer newsletter.
Rasmus Hojlund is on the verge of a season-long loan switch to Napoli, who will have an obligation to sign him for £39m if they qualify for the Champions League.
Antony is also expected to return to Real Betis on a permanent basis after talks accelerated in recent days.
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia, who have joined Garnacho and Antony as exiles from Amorim’s squad, will leave, too.
United are keen on signing a goalkeeper and midfielder before the deadline, and further exits could facilitate moves.
