News Update

I turned Chelsea down in summer transfer window to pursue my dream

Fermin Lopez has broken his silence on Chelsea’s transfer interest in him this summer. The Blues launched a late bid to sign the Spain international during the final days of the transfer window. GettyLopez has lifted the lid on his decision to reject a move to Chelsea this summer[/caption] GettyEnzo Maresca launched a late bid to bring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge[/caption] However, the 22-year-old remained with Barcelona beyond Monday’s deadline as Chelsea failed to agree a deal. The west London club launched a £34.6million bid from the west London club over the weekend. Lopez has now revealed his ‘priority’ had always been to stay with Barca despite Chelsea’s interest. The midfielder joined the club’s famed La Masia academy as a 12-year-old before progressing into the first-team. Explaining his decision to reject the Blues, he told Mundo Deportivo: “Well, in the end, my priority has always been to be at Barça. I arrived when I was 12; it was my dream to be here, to be able to reach the first team. “It’s always a compliment when there’s interest from other clubs, but the truth is, I always had the idea of staying at Barca and being able to succeed here. “There’s been a lot of speculation about all this, but I insist: my priority has always been to be at Barca, and I never doubted being here. “I’ve always felt I wanted to be here, to try to succeed, and to help the club.” Lopez signed a new five-year deal with Barca in October 2024 before going on to win a league and Copa del Rey double last season. He also revealed that several of his teammates had convinced him to stay at the club after asking him not to leave. Lopez explained his desire to continue fulfilling his ‘dream’ was key to staying at BarcaGetty The playmaker added: “I’ve had a few conversations with some of them. “But the whole team has been very supportive this week, and everyone wanted me to stay, too. The support from the locker room is appreciated.” When asked who he had spoken to, he replied: “Quite a few, but I can tell you… Marc-Andre ter Stegen, for example. “With him, with Ronald [Araujo], with Pedri, with quite a few players, actually. Raphinha too.” Lopez has made 90 first-team appearances for Barca, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists. His LaLiga and Copa del Rey wins last season followed Euro 2024 and Olympic glory with Spain the previous summer. GettyThe 22-year-old’s teammates also asked him to stay at the club amid Chelsea’s interest[/caption] Chelsea’s summer transfer business Despite missing out on the signing of Lopez, Enzo Maresca brought in ten new players during the summer transfer window. In total, the Italian spent £317.2m bolstering his squad for their Premier League and Champions League campaigns. Amongst them was the £60m arrival of Joao Pedro from Brighton as well as Alejandro Garnacho’s long-awaited arrival. Elsewhere, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap completed moves to Stamford Bridge. Brazilian winger Estevao also made the switch from Palmeiras after turning 18 having agreed his move a year earlier. Meanwhile, Facundo Buonanotte was a late arrival from Brighton on a season-long loan.

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I turned Chelsea down in summer transfer window to pursue my dream

Fermin Lopez has broken his silence on Chelsea’s transfer interest in him this summer.

The Blues launched a late bid to sign the Spain international during the final days of the transfer window.

Lopez has lifted the lid on his decision to reject a move to Chelsea this summer[/caption]

Enzo Maresca launched a late bid to bring the Spaniard to Stamford Bridge[/caption]

However, the 22-year-old remained with Barcelona beyond Monday’s deadline as Chelsea failed to agree a deal.

The west London club launched a £34.6million bid from the west London club over the weekend.

Lopez has now revealed his ‘priority’ had always been to stay with Barca despite Chelsea’s interest.

The midfielder joined the club’s famed La Masia academy as a 12-year-old before progressing into the first-team.

Explaining his decision to reject the Blues, he told Mundo Deportivo: “Well, in the end, my priority has always been to be at Barça. I arrived when I was 12; it was my dream to be here, to be able to reach the first team.

“It’s always a compliment when there’s interest from other clubs, but the truth is, I always had the idea of staying at Barca and being able to succeed here.

“There’s been a lot of speculation about all this, but I insist: my priority has always been to be at Barca, and I never doubted being here.

“I’ve always felt I wanted to be here, to try to succeed, and to help the club.”

Lopez signed a new five-year deal with Barca in October 2024 before going on to win a league and Copa del Rey double last season.

He also revealed that several of his teammates had convinced him to stay at the club after asking him not to leave.

Lopez explained his desire to continue fulfilling his ‘dream’ was key to staying at Barca

The playmaker added: “I’ve had a few conversations with some of them.

“But the whole team has been very supportive this week, and everyone wanted me to stay, too. The support from the locker room is appreciated.”

When asked who he had spoken to, he replied: “Quite a few, but I can tell you… Marc-Andre ter Stegen, for example.

“With him, with Ronald [Araujo], with Pedri, with quite a few players, actually. Raphinha too.”

Lopez has made 90 first-team appearances for Barca, scoring 19 goals and providing 11 assists.

His LaLiga and Copa del Rey wins last season followed Euro 2024 and Olympic glory with Spain the previous summer.

The 22-year-old’s teammates also asked him to stay at the club amid Chelsea’s interest[/caption]

Chelsea’s summer transfer business

Despite missing out on the signing of Lopez, Enzo Maresca brought in ten new players during the summer transfer window.

In total, the Italian spent £317.2m bolstering his squad for their Premier League and Champions League campaigns.

Amongst them was the £60m arrival of Joao Pedro from Brighton as well as Alejandro Garnacho’s long-awaited arrival.

Elsewhere, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato and Liam Delap completed moves to Stamford Bridge.

Brazilian winger Estevao also made the switch from Palmeiras after turning 18 having agreed his move a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Facundo Buonanotte was a late arrival from Brighton on a season-long loan.