First Team Squad
Player profile and performance records.
Mateus Fernandes (midfielder)
Mateus Fernandes
Olhao, PortugalPosition: midfielder
Born: 10th Jul 2004 (Olhao, Portugal)
Signed: 29th Aug 2025 (£38,000,000)
Contract: 5 years (signed August 2025)
Previous Club: Southampton
KUMB Awards: None.
Born in Olhao, Portugal, Fernandes began his footballing journey at his local club Olhanense, before moving to Sporting CP's youth academy as a 12-year-old in 2016.
Six years later, in October 2022, Fernandes signed his first professional contract with the club - which included a release clause of ?,?60 million - tying him to Sporting until 2027.
He made his senior debut as a late substitute in a 3?EUR"1 Primeira Liga win over Casa Pia on 22 October 2022.At the beginning of the following season, in August 2023, Estoril announced the signing of Fernandes on a season-long loan.
Having returned to Sporting at the culmination of his loan spell, Fernandes joined Southampton on a five-year contract in a deal worth ??15million. He made his debut for the Saints on 24 August 2024 in a 1?EUR"0 home defeat against Nottingham Forest, replaced Taylor Harwood-Bellis for the final 14 minutes.
Later than week Fernandes opened his account for Southampton with a goal in the 5?EUR"3 away win against Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup. However his stay at St Mary's was to prove short-lived.
Following Southampton's relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2024/25 season, Fernandes moved to West Ham for a fee of ??38million plus add-ons (??4million). He signed a five-year contract with the Hammers, where he was given the number 18 shirt, tying him to east London until 2030.
On 2 July 2026, following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League, Fernandes joined Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of ??85 million.
vs Newcastle United
1-3: Sunday, 17th May(Played 90 minutes)
Abandoned by his manager with that team, he had far too much to do. He needed to be the defensive shield, the creative force, and making the driving runs forward from midfield. All whilst outnumbered. He wasn't good, but was asked to do too much.
vs Arsenal
0-1: Saturday, 9th May(Played 90 minutes)
Was arguably the best player on the pitch, but that decisive miss was a massive moment, one of those Sliding Doors moments that will eat at many. After a shaky start, he imposed himself on Arsenal and looked very comfortable competing at that level.
vs Crystal Palace
0-0: Monday, 20th April(Played 90 minutes)
Much the same as Soucek. Some of his better passing didn't really come to the fore, but his responsible and disciplined midfield work was key at keeping the scores level and coveting for an attack that wasn't working.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
4-0: Friday, 10th April(Played 90 minutes)
Not quite at his best, but particularly accurate with his long balls forward, and mostly disciplined. Looked a bit leggy in the first half and was sloppy giving a freekick away down the left.
vs Leeds United
2-2: Sunday, 5th April(Played 90 minutes)
He was out of the game in a poor first half, but looked much better restored to a central midfield pair with Soucek, popping up with a vital goal. Looked a little leggy after his first spell with the Portuguese senior team.
vs Aston Villa
0-2: Sunday, 22nd March(Played 90 minutes)
Seemed to be the one who lost out with the midfield change, going from the man who held the midfield and dictated play to suddenly having to play a touch wider and more forward. It resulted in him being pushed out of the game.
vs Manchester City
1-1: Saturday, 14th March(Played 90 minutes)
Maybe it is over the top to appreciate a man for the fouls he commits, but sometimes you have to unsettle an opponent and prove to them you are always going to make challenges and put them under pressure. He plays slick passes, moves well on and off the ball, has the pace to stay with runners and can turn defence to attack with big passes on either foot.
vs Brentford
2-2: Monday, 9th March(Played 120 minutes)
Understated stuff again as the most defensively disciplined midfielder, he delivered some wonderful crosses that created chances, and on both feet. Nice interchanges with the forwards when the Hammers found some rhythm.
vs Fulham
1-0: Wednesday, 4th March(Played 90 minutes)
About as close as he could get to a second yellow, even if the referee might have been wrong to call it a foul in the first place, he calmed his game down and worked very hard.
vs AFC Bournemouth
0-0: Saturday, 21st February(Played 90 minutes)
Quieter game for him, clearly given the more disciplined role in deeper midfield, likely as he?EUR(TM)s the only one with the pace to keep up with what Bournemouth do. He?EUR(TM)s also the best passer and can dictate well from there, but didn?EUR(TM)t find those long passes that have unlocked teams in recent games.
vs Manchester United
1-1: Tuesday, 10th February(Played 90 minutes)
Not at his best, but still good. Combative, making more tackles (5) than anyone else. Not quite as everywhere as he has been in recent games, but key to this team still.
vs Burnley
2-0: Saturday, 7th February(Played 90 minutes)
Increasingly clear as West Ham's best player, the midfielder has grown and grown in the shirt, but with great strides in the last month. Now he is dictating the play and is an influence in every third, defending with fight and bite, driving forward at pace, and playing exquisite passes. The goal threat, be it his own or creating, has been key lately, and he gets West Ham off the mark by leaving opponents in the dust on a driving run and then weighting his pass perfectly for Summerville.
vs Chelsea
2-3: Saturday, 31st January(Played 90 minutes)
A very good first half was met with a beaten second half, with the young midfielder looking absolutely knackered. His pass out to Bowen for the second goal was excellent and he had the better of the Chelsea midfield in the first half. Also created the big chance for Bowen, even if it would have been flagged eventually.
vs Sunderland
3-1: Saturday, 24th January(Played 90 minutes)
Wow. What a midfield performance. Comfortably the best midfielder we have had at the club since Declan Rice. As detailed in the report, he was absolutely brilliant all game. It was the complete midfield display. Would have been a 10 if his last minute shot went under the bar and into the top corner.
vs Sunderland
3-1: Saturday, 24th January(Played 90 minutes)
Some have doubted the lad's potential in recent weeks, but let this performance be a reminder than this is a ??100m+ player in the making. His passing today was fantastic, as was his defensive awareness and graft. He scraps for everything, spots a pass and has wonderful technique, can carry at pace, and covers a lot of ground. And he can shoot. Deserved the second to go in, he barely put a foot wrong. The first half, in particular, was as good as anything seen at that stadium. This survival campaign is on his back.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
2-1: Saturday, 17th January(Played 90 minutes)
Grafted throughout, an excellent shift.
vs Nottingham Forest
1-2: Tuesday, 6th January(Played 90 minutes)
Really quiet game from Fernandes. Wouldn?EUR(TM)t say he did anything wrong, but was not at his creative best.
vs Nottingham Forest
1-2: Tuesday, 6th January(Played 90 minutes)
A quieter role when he's played with Paqueta and Soucek as he has to sit behind them to ensure there is pace to deal with counter attacks. Managed that well.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-3: Saturday, 3rd January(Played 90 minutes)
Rare poor performance from the Portugese midfielder. Gave the ball away often and was poor defensively. Only stayed on because his other two midfielders somehow played worse.
vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
0-3: Saturday, 3rd January(Played 90 minutes)
He lacked guile to create in the middle, and it highlighted how big Paqueta's absence can be, but he also worked his hardest and was one of the few who failed to sit and stay beaten. That fight is lacking in nearly every other player.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
2-2: Tuesday, 30th December(Played 90 minutes)
Creative, particularly in the first half, worked hard in every moment, and had the engine to play throughout the 90 minutes.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
2-2: Tuesday, 30th December(Played 90 minutes)
Faded a little as the game went on, but he's enjoying his chance to run the midfield. Brighton's abundance of pace in all areas did seem to limit his ability to carry the ball as he can, but he played some nice passes and was a bright spark in the first half.
vs Fulham
0-1: Saturday, 27th December(Played 90 minutes)
Despite arguably being West Ham's best player this season, Fernandes struggled to make any real impact on the game.
vs Manchester City
0-3: Saturday, 20th December(Played 90 minutes)
Didn't get to grips with the game and this was a setback from his recent excellent form.
vs Aston Villa
2-3: Saturday, 13th December(Played 90 minutes)
Very quickly becoming the side's best player, he's central to everything from the tempo in the press, to dictating play and defending with strength and speed.
vs Brighton & Hove Albion
1-1: Saturday, 6th December(Played 90 minutes)
An excellent performance from the young midfielder, with more tackles and turnovers than any other player so far this season.
vs Manchester United
1-1: Wednesday, 3rd December(Played 90 minutes)
Clearly doesn't want to be operating off the left, but does it dutifully. His best moments came as he carried through the middle.
vs Liverpool
0-2: Saturday, 29th November(Played 90 minutes)
He is quite clearly the successor to Paqueta in the middle and was limited by being on the left. It should have been the Brazilian. All Fernandes's best moments, and arguably the best West Ham looked, came from him drifting inside and taking on the creative burden.
vs AFC Bournemouth
2-2: Saturday, 22nd November(Played 90 minutes)
Was better than Potts but also got a bit lost in the desperation of the second half. Surprised to see him substituted.
vs Burnley
3-2: Saturday, 8th November(Played 90 minutes)
Most chances created, one misplaced pass, busy in defence, carried well, played smart forward passes, and passed into the final third more than anyone. He wanted it, he wanted the ball and he wanted the fight to win it back.
vs Newcastle United
3-1: Saturday, 1st November(Played 90 minutes)
Probably the lesser of the three in midfield, but still a very good performance and hopefully one that works as a springboard. He's incredibly busy, gets up and down the pitch at pace and spots danger well. He and Potts are a very good pair, and both complemented Paqueta well.
vs Leeds United
1-2: Saturday, 25th October(Played 25 minutes, sub)
(Soucek 65') Similarly to Potts, he got around the pitch and did so with speed, looking up, comfortable creating and comfortable spotting danger and snuffing it out. The dart into the box and header was clever. For a 25-minute cameo, that was excellent.
vs Brentford
0-2: Saturday, 18th October(Played 90 minutes)
He could not get into the game, probably a part of playing between Soucek and Irving, who are far from his level on the ball, and whilst not good, he had to stay on if it was to become a two-man midfield, he's the only player capable of doing the running required.
vs Arsenal
0-2: Saturday, 4th October(Played 90 minutes)
Was incredibly busy, making seven tackles, and keeping the ball with 100% of his 35 passes, but was let down a little by how he let people run off his shoulder into dangerous areas.
vs Everton
1-1: Monday, 29th September(Played 90 minutes)
Mostly played deeper than Paqueta in more of a holding pair, and this limits some of his pass and move play. He can be dynamic in the opposition half but was disciplined.
vs Crystal Palace
1-2: Saturday, 20th September(Played 90 minutes)
He tries to be busy and does so with a bit of pace about him, but he's playing with statues. The gaps in midfield had him pushing to be alongside Paqueta and dropping in to support Ward-Prowse, a thankless task.
vs Tottenham Hotspur
0-3: Saturday, 13th September(Played 61 minutes)
Worked hard and had an influence across the pitch, and had this been on merit, he would not have been subbed off. However, it seemed he was protected by the manager and given a bit more rest once the game was gone. He is arguably too important in attack right now to be sacrificed to hold a deeper role, but the team also need more energy and his ability in there.
vs Nottingham Forest
3-0: Sunday, 31st August(Played 90 minutes)
A promising debut. He's got some strength for his frame, works hard, has a step of pace and makes smart runs. Combined well with Paqueta and slotted into the team nicely, especially considering he'd barely trained with the squad.
Mateus Fernandes did not play any matches this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.
Mateus Fernandes did not play for West Ham during this season.