| Mateus Fernandes | |
| Full Name: | Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes |
| Birth Date: | 2004 7, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Olhão, Portugal |
| Height: | 1.78 m |
| Position: | Central midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Southampton |
| Clubnumber: | 18 |
| Youthyears1: | 2010–2016 |
| Youthclubs1: | Olhanense |
| Youthyears2: | 2016–2021 |
| Youthclubs2: | Sporting CP |
| Years1: | 2021–2023 |
| Clubs1: | Sporting CP B |
| Caps1: | 36 |
| Goals1: | 2 |
| Years2: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs2: | Sporting CP |
| Caps2: | 5 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2023–2024 |
| Clubs3: | → Estoril (loan) |
| Caps3: | 28 |
| Goals3: | 1 |
| Years4: | 2024– |
| Clubs4: | Southampton |
| Caps4: | 13 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2021–2022 |
| Nationalteam1: | Portugal U18 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2021–2023 |
| Nationalteam2: | Portugal U19 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2022–2023 |
| Nationalteam3: | Portugal U20 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 1 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam4: | Portugal U21 |
| Nationalcaps4: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 2 |
| Pcupdate: | 22:13, 4 December 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 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 club Southampton.
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]
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]
Fernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played up to the Portugal U21s.[8]
| 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 | 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 | 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 | Premier League | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 82 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 97 | 5 | |||