1. He was born and raised on the Algarve
Mateus Fernandes was born in the fishing port of Olhão in the Algarve region of southern Portugal on 10 July 2004. He began his career with Olhanense, who were then in the top-flight Primeira Division, at the age of six in 2010 and spent six years in the club’s Academy.
2. He moved to Lisbon as a schoolboy
Mateus Fernandes moved to Sporting Lisbon’s Academy, the Escolas Academia Sporting, at the age of 13 in 2016. He rose through the age-groups, being promoted to their B-team for the 2021/22 season and turning professional in October 2022, aged 18. He excelled as a junior, scoring five goals and registering five assists in 14 UEFA Youth League appearances and appearing 22 times for Sporting B in the third-tier Liga 3 across the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons, captaining the side on a number of occasions.
3. He debuted as a teenager
Mateus Fernandes made his senior debut for Sporting Lisbon in October 2022 in a Primeira Liga win over Casa Pia, aged 18 years and three months. He appeared ten times for the club’s first team, scoring his first goal in an Allianz Cup win over Farense in November 2022. He also appeared in a UEFA Champions League group-stage tie at Tottenham Hotspur and UEFA Europa League knockout play-off round tie at Midtjylland in Denmark.
4. He spent a season on loan at Estoril
Mateus Fernandes spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Primeira Liga club Estoril, playing 35 times and helping the club reach the Allianz Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Braga. He scored one goal, a winner, in a 1-0 Primeira Division win over Estrela Amadora, and registered two assists as Estoril finished safely in mid-table.
5. He’s an international bright young thing
Capped by Portugal at U18, U19 and U20 levels, Fernandes has earned 16 U21 caps, including three at the 2025 UEFA European U21 Championship finals in Slovakia. He scored in UEFA Euro U21 Championship qualifying wins over Belarus and the Faroe Islands as Portugal won nine out of ten qualifiers, then started against France, Georgia and Netherlands at the final tournament.
6. He starred for the Saints
Mateus Fernandes joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 and was a bright spot in the Saints’ season, which ended in relegation from the Premier League. He played 36 times, scored two goals, assisted four and made numerous tackles, interceptions and blocks.
