Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes (born 10 July 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club West Ham United.
Fernandes is a youth product of his local club Olhanense, and moved to Sporting CP's youth academy in 2016.[2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
On 29 August 2023, Primeira Liga club Estoril announced the signing of Fernandes on a season-long loan from Sporting.[5]
On 20 August 2024, Fernandes joined Southampton on a five-year contract.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8]
On 29 August 2025, Fernandes joined West Ham United on a five-year contract,[9][10] for a fee reported to be “more than £40m”.[11] He became the club's third-biggest signing, behind the £45m paid for Sebastien Haller and the £51m paid for Lucas Paquetá.[12]
Fernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played up to the Portugal U21s. [13]
| 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 | 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[c] | 0 | — | 7 | 1 | |
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25 | 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 | Primeira Liga | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 35 | 1 | ||
| Southampton | 2024–25[15] | Premier League | 36 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 42 | 3 | ||
| 2025–26[16] | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 39 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 46 | 4 | ||||
| West Ham United | 2025–25[16] | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 108 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 127 | 7 | ||
