In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Espanha and the second or paternal family name is Fernandes.
Mateus Fernandes
Fernandes with Portugal in 2026
Personal information
Full name Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes[1]
Date of birth (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth Olhão, Portugal
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Tottenham Hotspur
Number 18
Youth career
2010–2016 Olhanense
2016–2021 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Sporting CP B 36 (2)
2022–2024 Sporting CP 5 (0)
2023–2024 → Estoril (loan) 28 (1)
2024–2025 Southampton 39 (2)
2025–2026 West Ham United 36 (3)
2026– Tottenham Hotspur 0 (0)
International career‡
2021–2022 Portugal U18 9 (1)
2021–2023 Portugal U19 9 (0)
2022 Portugal U20 2 (1)
2023– Portugal U21 21 (4)
2026– Portugal 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 18:01, 24 May 2026 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:30, 13 June 2026 (UTC)

Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes (born 10 July 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Portugal national team.

Fernandes is a graduate of Sporting CP's youth system. He made 10 first-team appearances for Sporting, and had a spell on loan at Estoril, before joining Southampton in August 2024. He was signed by West Ham United in August 2025, for a transfer fee of more than £40 million. In July 2026, Fernandes joined Tottenham Hotspur.

Fernandes has made more than 40 appearances for Portugal at youth international level. He made his senior international debut in March 2026.

Club career

Sporting CP

Fernandes is a youth product of his local club Olhanense, and moved to Sporting CP's youth academy in 2016.[3] He was promoted to their B-team for the 2021–22 season. On 14 October 2022, Fernandes signed a professional contract with the club tying him until 2027 with a release clause of €60 million.[4] He made his professional and senior debut with Sporting as a late substitute in a 3–1 Primeira Liga win over Casa Pia on 22 October 2022.[5]

Loan to Estoril

On 29 August 2023, Primeira Liga club Estoril announced the signing of Fernandes on a season-long loan from Sporting.[6]

Southampton

On 20 August 2024, Fernandes joined Southampton on a five-year contract.[7] He made his debut for the club on 24 August 2024 in a 1–0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest after he replaced Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the 76th minute.[8] On 28 August 2024, Fernandes scored his first goal for the club in a 5–3 away victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.[9]

West Ham United

On 29 August 2025, Fernandes joined Premier League club West Ham United on a five-year contract,[10][11] for a transfer fee reported to be "more than £40m".[12] He became the club's third-biggest signing, behind the £45 million paid for Sebastien Haller and the £51 million paid for Lucas Paquetá.[13]

On 14 December 2025, Fernandes scored against Aston Villa after 29 seconds, making it the fastest Premier League goal of the season. The game ended 3–2 to Villa.[14]

In May 2026, Fernandes was nominated for the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.[15]

Tottenham Hotspur

On 2 July 2026, Fernandes joined Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £85 million.[16][17]

International career

Fernandes has played youth international football for Portugal at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.[18]

On 31 March 2026, Fernandes made his debut for the Portugal senior team, coming on as a late substitute for Bruno Fernandes in a friendly match in Atlanta against the United States, which ended 2–0 to Portugal.[19]

Style of play

Fernandes is a versatile, all-round midfielder who has operated in wide and advanced positions, but is primarily suited to a deeper central role. Although he was initially used as a number 10 at Southampton, he regards himself as a number 8, while West Ham United deployed him mainly in a hybrid role between a number 6 and number 8.[20][21]

In possession, Fernandes is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure and can progress play through both passing and ball carrying. From deeper areas, he can drop between the central defenders to circulate possession, draw opponents into pressing and then break defensive lines or switch play with longer passes.[21] Without the ball, he is noted for his tackling, tenacity and high-intensity running. His mobility and reading of danger allow him to cover ground, contest loose balls and help defend against transitions, while he also presses opponents in an attempt to force turnovers.[20][21] He is also capable of making late runs into the penalty area, although goalscoring has been identified as an area in which he could further improve.[20]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 24 May 2026
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting CP B 2021–22[22] Liga 3 18 1 — — — — 18 1
2022–23[22] Liga 3 18 1 — — — — 18 1
Total 36 2 — — — — 36 2
Sporting CP 2022–23[23] Primeira Liga 3 0 0 0 2 1 2[c] 0 — 7 1
2023–24[23] Primeira Liga 1 0 — — — — 1 0
2024–25[23] Primeira Liga 1 0 — — — 1[d] 0 2 0
Total 5 0 0 0 2 1 2 0 1 0 10 1
Estoril (loan) 2023–24[23] Primeira Liga 28 1 3 0 4 0 — — 35 1
Southampton 2024–25[24] Premier League 36 2 2 0 4 1 — — 42 3
2025–26[25] Championship 3 0 — 1 1 — — 4 1
Total 39 2 2 0 5 2 — — 46 4
West Ham United 2025–26[25] Premier League 36 3 2 1 — — — 38 4
Tottenham Hotspur 2026–27[26] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 — — 0 0
Career total 144 8 7 1 11 3 2 0 1 0 165 12
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, FA Cup
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga, EFL Cup
  3. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

International

As of match played 31 March 2026[27]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2026 1 0
Total 1 0

Honours

Individual

  • Southampton Player of the Season: 2024–25[28]
  • West Ham United Hammer of the Year runner-up: 2025–26[29]
  • West Ham United Goal of the Season: 2025–26[30]

References

  1. ^ "2024/25 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Mateus Fernandes Overview". premierleague.com. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  3. ^ Sousa, Jorge Faria (22 July 2022). "Mateus Fernandes, mais um jovem talento da formação".
  4. ^ "Mateus Fernandes: a duração do novo contrato e a cláusula de rescisão (Sporting)". A Bola. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Fatawu desce aos B e Mateus Fernandes espreita oportunidade com Casa Pia (Sporting)". A Bola. Archived from the original on 26 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Mateus Fernandes chega por empréstimo" [Mateus Fernandes arrives on loan]. GD Estoril Praia (in European Portuguese). 29 August 2023. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Saints swoop for Fernandes". Southampton FC. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  8. ^ Coates, Charlotte (24 August 2024). "Southampton 0–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  9. ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (28 August 2024). "Cardiff City 3–5 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Fernandes completes West Ham move". Southampton FC. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  11. ^ "West Ham United sign Mateus Fernandes". West Ham United FC. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  12. ^ "West Ham sign Southampton midfielder Fernandes". BBC Sport. 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  13. ^ Wynne, Ffion (29 August 2025). "West Ham sign midfielders Mateus Fernandes from Southampton in £40m-plus deal and Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  14. ^ Howarth, Matthew. "West Ham 2-3 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Young Player of the Season 2025/26 nominees". premierleague.com. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
  16. ^ "Welcome, Mateus! Fernandes signs". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 2 July 2026. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  17. ^ Mokbel, Sami; Collins, Ben (30 June 2026). "Mateus Fernandes: Tottenham agree £85m deal for West Ham midfielder". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  18. ^ "Mateus Fernandes". fpf.pt. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  19. ^ "Internationals: Wan-Bissaka and DR Congo earn World Cup place, Fernandes makes Portugal debut". West Ham United FC. Retrieved 2 April 2026.
  20. ^ a b c Blitz, Sam (13 June 2026). "Mateus Fernandes: The reasons why Manchester United and Europe's best are interested in a midfielder who has been relegated twice". Sky Sports. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  21. ^ a b c Holden, Connor. "Mateus Fernandes analysis: Why West Ham's midfield maestro could keep them up". Squawka. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  22. ^ a b "Performance Mateus Fernandes's matches". besoccer.com. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  23. ^ a b c d Mateus Fernandes at Soccerway. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  24. ^ "Games played by Mateus Fernandes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  25. ^ a b "Games played by Mateus Fernandes in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  26. ^ "Games played by Mateus Fernandes in 2026/2027". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2026.
  27. ^ "Mateus Fernandes, international football player". eu-football.info. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  28. ^ "Fernandes wins Fans' Player of the Season award". Southampton FC. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  29. ^ "Dinos Mavropanos is your 2025/26 Hammer of the Year!". West Ham United F.C. 23 May 2026. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  30. ^ "Fernandes & Hermansen win Player Awards". West Ham United F.C. 6 June 2026. Retrieved 6 June 2026.