Enzo Fernández: River Plate sold him four years ago and still earns millions

River Plate continues to see its accounts grow from a player it sold four years ago. Enzo Fernández’s move from Benfica to Manchester City has delivered the Argentine club another payment, pushing its total earnings from the midfielder close to €60 million.

Fernández has become one of football’s most expensive players. In just three and a half years, he has completed two transfers worth more than €120 million. Chelsea paid Benfica €121 million in 2023, and Manchester City later agreed to a €145 million transfer.

The latest deal earned River more than €5 million through FIFA’s solidarity mechanism, which financially rewards clubs that helped develop a player. River had sold Fernández to Benfica in 2022 for an initial €10 million plus €8 million in bonuses, while retaining 25% of his economic rights.

When Chelsea activated the €121 million agreement a few months later, River received around €30 million from its retained share, along with roughly €4 million through the solidarity mechanism. The latest Manchester City transfer has now added another payment to the club’s returns from Fernández.