Welcome Mateus Fernandes

[Mex Martillo]

From Alans news

The Athletic

West Ham agree deal for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes



By David Ornstein and Jacob Tanswell

West Ham have agreed a deal for Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

The deal is set to be worth £38million ($51.3m) with £3m worth of add-ons and a 15 per cent sell-on clause.

The 21-year-old Portugal youth international will be West Ham’s sixth signing of the summer, with the London side also in talks to sign midfielder Soungoutou Magassa from Monaco.

Fernandes joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 from Sporting CP and has made 46 appearances for the south-coast side that got relegated last season, scoring four goals and registering seven assists. He has played 36 times for Portugal’s youth teams up to under-21 level but is yet to make a senior international appearance.

Southampton were relegated from the Premier League last season with seven games still to play, only a year after their promotion.

West Ham have lost their opening three games of the 2025-26 season, two in the Premier League and one against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. They are next in action away to Nottingham Forest on Sunday in the league.

(Photo: Pete Norton/Getty Images)

[muskie]

Are we selling Paqueta to Spurs to fund this?
 

[BRANDED]

This seems a high price to pay

[fraser]

Apparently he showed plenty 

[Rossal]

Funny old world, sign for £12m score 2 goals in a side that got 12 points then all of a sudden you're worth over 3 times that fee. 

Can't say it makes sense, or that i've seen much of him.......but fuck me our season relies on this lad being half decent 

 

You're forgetting we wanted to sign him last season, but Loppy said no. 

But did he show anything at all last season?   What merits he is now 3 x the price? 

[stubbo-admin]

is he a 10 or an 8?

 

From what I’ve read this morning, he is an attacking central, so more 10 than 8.

I read this:

Playing Style and Attributes
Fernandes is understood for his dynamic playing style, characterised through:
Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates extraordinary ball manipulation and imaginative and prescient, facilitating powerful distribution and playmaking.
Defensive Solidity: Exhibits robust tackling and interception skills, contributing appreciably to his team’s protective efforts.
Physical Attributes: Combines agility with a strong physique, permitting him to navigate tight areas and hold ownership under pressure.

Definitely an 8:

https://fbref.com/en/players/ef491564/Mateus-Fernandes

You can see in that link how he compares to attacking midfielders (pretty badly) and regular midfielders (very well).  Good ball carying midfielder.  Not creative enough to be a 10.

Not dissimilar to Joelinton statistically....just a bit better in the tackle, and a bit worse in the air.

[cheesebgt]

He's more an 8 than a 10

[Mad Ferret]

Funny old world, sign for £12m score 2 goals in a side that got 12 points then all of a sudden you're worth over 3 times that fee. 

Can't say it makes sense, or that i've seen much of him.......but fuck me our season relies on this lad being half decent 

Mate, you're utterly clueless.

[fraser]

More an. 8 I think 

[Mex Martillo]

is he a 10 or an 8?

 

 

From what I’ve read this morning, he is an attacking central, so more 10 than 8.

I read this:

Playing Style and Attributes
Fernandes is understood for his dynamic playing style, characterised through:
Technical Proficiency: Demonstrates extraordinary ball manipulation and imaginative and prescient, facilitating powerful distribution and playmaking.
Defensive Solidity: Exhibits robust tackling and interception skills, contributing appreciably to his team’s protective efforts.
Physical Attributes: Combines agility with a strong physique, permitting him to navigate tight areas and hold ownership under pressure.

[fraser]

Funny old world, sign for £12m score 2 goals in a side that got 12 points then all of a sudden you're worth over 3 times that fee. 

Can't say it makes sense, or that i've seen much of him.......but fuck me our season relies on this lad being half decent 

 

 

You're forgetting we wanted to sign him last season, but Loppy said no. 

[El Scorchio]

That isn’t a dreadful deal for a very young player with prem experience and loads of potential in a position we are totally desperate for. 

[Rossal]

Funny old world, sign for £12m score 2 goals in a side that got 12 points then all of a sudden you're worth over 3 times that fee. 

Can't say it makes sense, or that i've seen much of him.......but fuck me our season relies on this lad being half decent 

[Mike Oxsaw]

Sullivan clearly planned this from the moment the window opened.

[Mad Dog]

In all seriousness my saints mate really rates him

 

[Mad Dog]

He's not really my type, ill still give him a 3 though

[dealcanvey]

is he a 10 or an 8?

[Mad Ferret]

Fucking buzzing honestly. People will point to Soton’s season but I thought he was their shining star above all else, the fact he’s cheaper than Dibling too astounds me, I know he’s a bit older but they signed him last season and he contributed much more to that team from what I saw.

He’s the exact profile we need alongside Magassa, we’ve missed a proper ball carrier in midfield since Rice, JWP never really ended up being that replacement for us. The fact he’s only 21 too, Potter might be shit but at least we’re making good signings.