Mateus Fernandes completes £85m Tottenham move in Championship record sale | OneFootball

Jake Hastings, Football reporter

Mateus Fernandes has completed his move from West Ham to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a club-record deal worth £85 million.

The 21-year-old Portuguese central midfielder leaves East London after only one season with the Hammers following the club’s relegation to the English second tier.

Fernandes made 38 appearances for West Ham, scoring four goals, and despite the club’s relegation, he was widely regarded as one of the standout midfielders in the Premier League last season.

A statement on Tottenham Hotspur’s website read: “We are delighted to announce the signing of Mateus Fernandes. The 21-year-old Portugal international midfielder joins from West Ham United.”

Fernandes also commented on the move: “I’m very excited for this next step. Spurs is a massive club and the Head Coach was a key part of why I have decided to join.

“When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way – going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try and win every game. I can’t wait to get started, to meet the fans, to meet everyone, and give everything for the Club.”

It was expected that Fernandes would be sold this summer, but not to his new employers, as he was instead linked with Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid all seemingly interested in the 21-year-old’s signature.

However, on the 1st July, Tottenham Hotspur agreed a club-record deal worth £85 million with West Ham for Fernandes. This also broke the Championship sale record, which Southampton previously held for the sale of Roméo Lavia in 2023 (£58 million).

The versatile, all-action midfielder becomes Spurs’ fifth summer signing, following Jan Paul van Hecke, Martin Dúbravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi.

At £85m, the transfer fee for Fernandes eclipses Tottenham’s previous record signing and places him among the Premier League’s most expensive midfielders.

However, Tottenham’s spending spree appears set to continue, with reports suggesting they have agreed a deal for £100m for Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Following Spurs’ back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League, Fernandes is expected to slot into the club’s midfield and make an immediate impact.

While Fernandes possesses excellent technical quality and athleticism, his ability to break the lines with incisive passing and progressive ball carries addresses an area Tottenham were looking to strengthen in midfield.

As for West Ham, they’ll be hoping that they can reinvest a portion of Fernandes’ transfer fee to help with their promotion back to the Premier League on the first attempt, with Troyes midfielder Martin Adeline reportedly the club’s top target.

For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.