Mateus Fernandes has been named in the Portugal U21 squad for 2027 UEFA European U21 Championship Group B qualifiers against Bulgaria and Gibraltar.
The West Ham United midfielder, who has made four appearances in Claret and Blue since signing from Southampton in late August, has been virtually ever-present for his country’s U21 side since making his debut in a 2025 UEFA Euro U21 qualifying win over Andorra in September 2023.
The 21-year-old has won 18 caps in total, with 12 of those games ending in victories, and he helped Portugal reach the quarter-finals at the 2025 tournament in Slovakia.
During the last international window, in September, Fernandes captained his side to a 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan and a 2-0 triumph away at Scotland, as Portugal U21s got their qualifying campaign for the 2027 finals off to a flying start. Fernandes was however sent-off in the clash against Scotland in Motherwell, for two bookable offences.
Luís Freire's men - who currently sit at the top of the six-team Group B table, ahead of Czechia on goal difference - will look to build on their winning momentum first when hosting third-place Bulgaria at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão - home of Liga Portugal 2 club Portimonense - at 7.30pm BST on Friday 10 October.
They will then travel to the Europa Sports Park to take on fifth-place Gibraltar at 6pm BST on Tuesday 14 October.
After ten rounds of games, the group winners will progress to the final tournament in Albania and Serbia in June 2027, and the runners-up to a play-off.
Portugal have never won the UEFA Euro U21 Championship title, but were runners-up in 1994, 2015 and 2021.
