Mateus Fernandes (footballer)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Espanha and the second or paternal family name is Fernandes.

Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes (born 10 July 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for EFL Championship club Southampton.

Mateus Fernandes

Personal information
Full name	Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes
Date of birth	(2004-07-10) 10 July 2004 (age 21)
Place of birth	Olhão, Portugal
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Central midfielder
Team information
Current team	Southampton
Number	18
Youth career
2010–2016	Olhanense
2016–2021	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2023	Sporting CP B	36	(2)
2022–2024	Sporting CP	5	(0)
2023–2024	→ Estoril (loan)	28	(1)
2024–	Southampton	38	(2)
International career‡
2021–2022	Portugal U18	9	(1)
2021–2023	Portugal U19	9	(0)
2022–2023	Portugal U20	2	(1)
2023–	Portugal U21	9	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13:31, 17 August 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 05:55, 15 October 2024 (UTC)

Professional career

Sporting CP

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]

Southampton

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 5–3 away victory against Cardiff City in the EFL Cup.^[7]

International career

Fernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played up to the Portugal U21s. ^[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 17 August 2025^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	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[a]	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[b]	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[10]	Premier League	36	2	2	0	4	1	—		—		42	3
	2025–26[11]	Championship	2	0	0	0	1	1	—		—		3	1
	Total		38	2	2	0	5	2	—		—		45	4
Career total			107	5	5	0	11	3	2	0	1	0	126	7

1. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
2. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira