Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes (born 10 July 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Southampton.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes | ||
| Date of birth | 10 July 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Olhão, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Central midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Southampton | ||
| 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– | Southampton | 10 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2021–2022 | Portugal U18 | 9 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Portugal U19 | 9 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Portugal U20 | 2 | (1) |
| 2023– | Portugal U21 | 9 | (2) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:22, 9 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 05:55, 15 October 2024 (UTC) | |||
Professional career
editSporting CP
editFernandes is a youth product of his local club Olhanense, and moved to Sporting CP's youth academy in 2016.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]
On 29 August 2023, Primeira Liga club Estoril announced the signing of Fernandes on a season-long loan from Sporting.[4]
Southampton
editOn 20 August 2024, Fernandes joined Southampton on a five-year contract.[5] 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.[6] On 28 August 2024, Fernandes scored his first goal for the club in a 3–5 away victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.[7]
International career
editFernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played up to the Portugal U21s. [8]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 9 November 2024[9]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting CP B | 2021–22 | Liga 3 | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | ||||
| 2022–23 | Liga 3 | 18 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 36 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 36 | 2 | ||||||
| Sporting CP | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2[a] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 | ||
| Estoril (loan) | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | |
| Southampton | 2024–25[10] | Premier League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 13 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 79 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 94 | 4 | ||
- ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
- ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
References
edit- ^ Sousa, Jorge Faria (22 July 2022). "Mateus Fernandes, mais um jovem talento da formação".
- ^ "Mateus Fernandes: a duração do novo contrato e a cláusula de rescisão (Sporting)". A Bola.[dead link]
- ^ "Fatawu desce aos B e Mateus Fernandes espreita oportunidade com Casa Pia (Sporting)". A Bola.[dead link]
- ^ "Mateus Fernandes chega por empréstimo" [Mateus Fernandes arrives on loan]. GD Estoril Praia (in European Portuguese). 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
- ^ "Saints swoop for Fernandes". Southampton FC. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ Coates, Charlotte (24 August 2024). "Southampton 0–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
- ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (28 August 2024). "Cardiff City 3–5 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Mateus Fernandes faltou ao batizado do afilhado e acabou... no estágio do Sporting". www.record.pt.
- ^ Mateus Fernandes at Soccerway
- ^ "Games played by Mateus Fernandes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
External links
edit- Mateus Fernandes at Soccerway
- Mateus Fernandes national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)
- Sporting Profile