Mateus Fernandes (footballer)

Mateus Fernandes
Personal information
Full name Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes
Date of birth (2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 20)
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)
2023–2024Estoril (loan) 28 (1)
2024– Southampton 16 (1)
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 16:17, 22 December 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 05:55, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes (born 10 July 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Premier League club Southampton.

Professional career

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Sporting CP

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Fernandes 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

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On 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

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Fernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played up to the Portugal U21s. [8]

Career statistics

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As of match played 22 December 2024[9]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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 16 1 0 0 4 1 20 2
Career total 85 4 3 0 10 2 2 0 1 0 101 5
  1. ^ One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  2. ^ Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira

References

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  1. ^ Sousa, Jorge Faria (22 July 2022). "Mateus Fernandes, mais um jovem talento da formação".
  2. ^ "Mateus Fernandes: a duração do novo contrato e a cláusula de rescisão (Sporting)". A Bola.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Fatawu desce aos B e Mateus Fernandes espreita oportunidade com Casa Pia (Sporting)". A Bola.[dead link]
  4. ^ "Mateus Fernandes chega por empréstimo" [Mateus Fernandes arrives on loan]. GD Estoril Praia (in European Portuguese). 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Saints swoop for Fernandes". Southampton FC. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  6. ^ Coates, Charlotte (24 August 2024). "Southampton 0–1 Nottingham Forest". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  7. ^ Mitchelmore, Ian (28 August 2024). "Cardiff City 3–5 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Mateus Fernandes faltou ao batizado do afilhado e acabou... no estágio do Sporting". www.record.pt.
  9. ^ Mateus Fernandes at Soccerway
  10. ^ "Games played by Mateus Fernandes in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
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