West Ham United have confirmed the arrival of Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from Southampton, signing the 21-year-old on a five-year contract in a deal valued at over ÂŁ40 million.
The move marks one of the most significant acquisitions in the clubâs recent history, a clear statement of intent as manager Graham Potter seeks to shore up a faltering midfield and ignite a turnaround in form.
Mateus Fernandes expressed his elation at completing the deal, stating: âI’m very happy to be here⌠it’s a big step for me. It’s a big club, a massive club. The project, the stadium, the city, everything.â He further elaborated on his aspirations: âI want to try to play football, enjoy football, not just run and try to score, but try to play good football. I think the most important thing is to try to give everything every day.â
Graham Potter was equally enthusiastic about the midfielderâs potential impact. âMateus is a young player who has made impressive progress in the early part of his career,â Potter commented. âHe gained valuable experience in the Premier League last year with Southampton and is someone we really feel can help improve us and fit into what we are trying to build and develop at the Club. We believe that his attributes and strengths will bring a different dimension to the squad, and from speaking to him, I know that he canât wait to get started here. He has shown great maturity and character for someone so young, and we look forward to seeing his continued progress and impact at West Ham United.â
The financial details of the transfer include an initial fee around ÂŁ38 million, with add-ons bringing the total to approximately ÂŁ41â42 million. Reports indicate the total equates to roughly âŹ44 million plus âŹ3.5 million in add-ons, making Fernandes West Hamâs third-most expensive signing to date.
Born on July 10, 2004, in OlhĂŁo in Portugalâs Algarve region, Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes began his football journey at Olhanense before joining Sporting CPâs famed youth academy at age 13. He advanced through Sportingâs ranks and turned professional in October 2022, making his debut that same month in Portugalâs Primeira Liga.
The following season, Fernandes spent time on loan at Estoril in the Portuguese top flight, making 28 appearances and helping the team reach the Allianz Cup final. He then made a big move to England in August 2024, joining Southampton in a deal reported to be around ÂŁ15 million. Fernandes became a standout performer during Southamptonâs ill-fated campaign, which ended in relegation. Despite the clubâs struggles, he made 36 Premier League appearances, contributing goals and assists while earning the Fansâ Player of the Season award.
According to detailed performance analysis, Fernandesâ all-round game offers an exciting blend of creativity, energy, and defensive tenacity. In the 2024â25 campaign, he ranked among the top percentile in the Premier League for several performance metrics: carry success, progressive carries into the final third, tackles, ball recoveries, and combined defensive actions.
Notably, his 2.17 carries into the final third per 90 minutes outperformed West Hamâs previous options such as James Ward-Prowse, Lucas PaquetĂĄ, and even Mohammed Kudus.
Defensively, his 2.75 tackles and 5.54 ball recoveries per 90 placed him alongside some of the leagueâs most active midfielders. Moreover, his 4.49 progressive passes per 90 elevated him among the top progressorsâanother area where West Ham lacked presence before his arrival.
Analysts concluded that Fernandes strengthens the midfield with his forward-breaking ability, dynamic off-ball work, and creative spark, providing a balance of ball progression and defensive grit rare for a player of his age.
Fernandes becomes West Hamâs sixth signing of the summer, joining a flurry of acquisitions including Callum Wilson, Kyle Walker-Peters, Mads Hermansen, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and the permanent deal for Jean-Clair Todibo. His arrival signals the clubâs determination to strengthen the squad amid their early season troubles.