Tottenham sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham in £85m club-record deal

Tottenham have completed the signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a guaranteed £85m, making the Portugal international the club’s most expensive signing ever. The 21-year-old has penned a long-term contract at Spurs after an agreement between the two clubs was reached on Tuesday, with the transfer officially confirmed on Thursday.

Fernandes, who spent last season at West Ham after the east London club paid around £40m to sign him from Southampton, arrives having endured back-to-back Premier League relegations with his previous two clubs. He will be eager to reverse that trend under head coach Roberto De Zerbi, whom he credited as the primary reason for choosing Tottenham over rival suitors.

“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,” Fernandes said. “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.”

De Zerbi had long identified Fernandes as a priority target, impressed by the midfielder’s ability to progress the ball from deep while contributing defensively. Manchester United had initially led the pursuit, with Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid also credited with interest, but Tottenham’s financial commitment proved decisive.

“I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” De Zerbi said. “Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency.”

Fernandes came through the Sporting Lisbon academy and briefly played alongside new Spurs team-mate Pedro Porro before a loan spell at Estoril caught Southampton’s attention in 2024. He registered four goals and seven assists for Saints despite their relegation, before West Ham moved to secure him permanently.

The Fernandes deal is the centrepiece of a busy summer at Spurs. It follows the free transfers of Andy Robertson, Martin Dubravka and Marcos Senesi, as well as the £52m signing of Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke. Tottenham are not done yet — an agreement has also been reached with Newcastle for Italy international Sandro Tonali, with that deal set to add further firepower to De Zerbi’s squad.