Alejandro Garnacho began the 2025/26 campaign carrying more than just the weight of a £40 million price tag. He also carried an off-field embarrassment that eventually reached a courtroom. The Argentine winger pleaded guilty at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court after a speed camera caught him driving his black Audi RS 3 at 50mph in a 40mph zone on Carrington Lane on 26 August 2025, at precisely 17:51 BST, right at the entrance to Manchester United‘s training complex.
Garnacho caught speeding near Carrington as off-field trouble follows Chelsea winger
The timing proved particularly striking because Garnacho completed his high-profile transfer to Chelsea just days after the incident, following a fractured relationship with then-United manager Ruben Amorim. Greater Manchester Police contacted him in October to identify himself as the driver, and he initially failed to respond through proper channels.
His legal team at JMW Solicitors eventually submitted a guilty plea and a formal apology to the court. Magistrate Jane Haynes handled the matter through the Single Justice Procedure in a closed hearing, fining Garnacho £660 plus £120 in costs and a £264 victim surcharge, with three penalty points added to his licence. The prosecution subsequently withdrew a secondary charge of failing to provide driver information. (Via GOAL)
Garnacho’s numbers at Chelsea tell a mixed story
Across 19 Premier League appearances this season, Garnacho has registered 1 goal and 4 assists, totalling 1,125 minutes on the pitch with an average FotMob rating of 6.99. The Argentine’s goal involvement stands at 0.42 per 90 minutes, with his non-penalty expected goals per 90 at 0.19, placing him in the top 70th percentile of Premier League players.
His creativity and directness on the left wing remain genuine assets, and his acceleration in transition frequently pulls defenders out of shape. However, Garnacho’s finishing consistency remains a glaring weakness. He has taken 28 shots in the league but converted just one, registering a shooting accuracy of only 25 per cent.
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Chelsea deploys him primarily as a wide attacker who stretches defensive lines and creates space for Cole Palmer centrally. His role demands a high defensive work-rate alongside attacking output. It is an area where he still shows inconsistency. The speeding conviction adds an unwanted narrative to a youngster whose talent remains beyond dispute, but whose maturity, both on the road and in front of goal, continues to come under scrutiny.
