Alejandro Garnacho has officially traded Old Trafford for Stamford Bridge, sealing a permanent move to Chelsea. The 21-year-old Argentinian winger has signed a seven-year contract with the Blues, committing his future to the club until the summer of 2032.
The transfer fee for Garnacho is reported to be a fixed £40 million. Manchester United has also included a 10% sell-on clause in the deal. Garnacho's departure from Manchester United seemed likely after he voiced his frustration about starting on the bench in the Europa League final against Tottenham in May. This reportedly led to him training away from the first team during pre-season.
Garnacho expressed his excitement about joining Chelsea, stating, "It's an incredible moment for my family and I to join this great club". He further added, "I can't wait to get started. I watched the Club World Cup and to join the world champions is special – we're the best team in the world! It's amazing to be here and I'm very happy".
Chelsea officially announced the signing, with Garnacho posing in his new blue kit. He was also present at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea's 2-0 victory against Fulham.
Garnacho joined Manchester United from Atletico Madrid in 2020 and made 144 appearances for the club, scoring 26 goals. He was a key player in United's FA Youth Cup success in 2022. One of his most memorable goals was a stunning acrobatic bicycle kick against Everton, which earned him the Puskas Award in 2024.
Manchester United released a statement thanking Garnacho for his contributions and wishing him well in his future career. With this move, Garnacho becomes United's fourth biggest sale in their history at €46.2m.
At Chelsea, Garnacho will compete for a starting spot on the left wing with players like Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto in Enzo Maresca's preferred 4-3-3 formation. His arrival is a welcome boost for Chelsea, especially with recent injury concerns surrounding players like Liam Delap and Cole Palmer.