The truth about Fermín not leaving: Chelsea never went beyond 40 million

Barcelona’s final days of the transfer window were overshadowed by constant speculation surrounding Fermín López and a potential move to Chelsea.

The story dominated headlines in both Spain and England, with rumors suggesting that the Premier League side was preparing a major bid for the young midfielder. For a player still in the early stages of his career, the links to Chelsea represented both a source of pride and an internal conflict. Reports indicated that Fermín had moments of hesitation: while his loyalty and attachment to Barcelona pushed him to stay, the prospect of increased playing time, a lucrative contract, and the prestige of the Premier League occasionally made him question his decision. In the end, however, the idea of leaving never truly materialized.

The saga began over a month before the market closed, when Barcelona’s sporting director Deco received an email from Chelsea. It was not an official offer no formal documents, no structured negotiations but simply an expression of interest. The London club suggested they might be willing to pay around €40 million for the midfielder. For Deco, this was nowhere near enough to even warrant a reply. He dismissed the proposal outright, considering it unworthy of discussion.

Despite the lack of formal negotiations, the media quickly seized on the story. From that point on, speculation escalated. British and Spanish outlets reported daily updates, often embellishing the numbers involved. Meanwhile, Fermín’s agents contacted Barcelona to relay Chelsea’s interest. Deco’s stance remained firm: if the player truly wanted to leave, he would have to be the one to approach the club and make that desire clear. This was the same approach Barcelona had taken with Iñigo Martínez when Saudi Arabian clubs came calling.

Fermín, however, never expressed such intentions. Despite the noise around him, he chose silence, preferring to focus on his football rather than push for an exit. Still, the rumors did not stop. Figures began circulating in the press, suggesting Chelsea was ready to raise their offer to between €50 and €58 million. Yet these numbers bore little resemblance to reality. According to insiders, they originated not from Chelsea themselves but from circles close to the player, possibly in an attempt to increase his market value or leverage within Barça. When Chelsea executives saw media reports of a €58 million valuation, their response was dismissive: “Too much money for that kid.”

Simultaneously, other reports claimed that Barcelona would only sell for €90 million. Again, this was unfounded. Deco never named such a price, nor did anyone else at the club, because there had been no direct negotiations beyond the initial email. What Barcelona was clear about internally, though, was that €58 million would not have been enough. While not necessarily holding out for €90 million, the club valued Fermín at no less than €70 million.

This valuation might seem ambitious, but Barcelona had their reasoning. Despite their ongoing financial struggles and the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play, the club considers Fermín a key asset. He is still very young, has already contributed to Barcelona’s recent successes, and is now part of the Spanish national team setup. His potential trajectory is seen as extremely high, and with Premier League clubs routinely paying inflated sums for rising talents, Barça felt justified in demanding significantly more than €58 million.

In truth, Chelsea’s interest was far more lukewarm than the media circus suggested. There was no bidding war, no concrete negotiations, and no official offer on the table beyond the vague €40 million proposal. The story was inflated by speculation, agents testing the waters, and the natural hunger for transfer drama in the closing days of the window.

Ultimately, the situation resolved itself quietly. Fermín never made the move to leave, Chelsea never pushed beyond an exploratory approach, and Barcelona never entered into real negotiations. What remains is a clear message: Barcelona see Fermín as an important piece of their future, and while they are aware of their financial limitations, they will not allow one of their brightest young players to depart for less than what they consider fair value.

In the end, the saga amounted to little more than noise: a pseudo-offer of €40 million, rumors of inflated figures, and a young player who never wavered enough to force the issue. For Fermín, it was a test of loyalty and patience. For Barcelona, it was a reaffirmation of their commitment to nurturing homegrown talent. And for Chelsea, it was a fleeting flirtation that never came close to becoming reality.