- Mateus Fernandes has been one of the Premier League’s breakout stars
- Fernandes is among the league’s best ball-winners
- The Portuguese international is expected to be well sought after in the summer
As West Ham United aim to navigate their way into Premier League safety in the upcoming weeks, it is expected that any successful attempt will centre around the contributions of Mateus Fernandes.
Fernandes, 21, has been one of the Premier League’s breakout players since signing from Southampton in August 2025. The Sporting academy graduate, who earned his maiden senior international cap with Portugal during March, is already delivering on the immense promise that accompanied his arrival.
Although signed under Graham Potter, it’s under the English coach’s successor, Nuno Espírito Santo, that Fernandes has experienced a noticeable uptick in performance. Santo has platformed his fellow countrymen in an all-encompassing midfield role that knits the Hammers’ play.
Mateus Fernandes among the Premier League’s best ball-winners
As stated, Fernandes has demonstrated a multifaceted skill set that has earned plaudits from all quarters of Premier League discourse. “He’s a competitor. He’s in the game all the time, which I like about him. He’s complete. He can do everything,” former Hammer and TNT Sports pundit Joe recently said about West Ham’s No.18.
A recent statistic from renowned data collectors Opta Sports highlights the growing value of Fernandes. The Portuguese ranks joint-third amongst Premier League players who have won possession 10+ times in a match this season.
According to Opta, only Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson with twelve and Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai, with seven, have had more matches than Fernandes, joining Arsenal’s Declan Rice and Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo on four.
Not only has Fernandes joined an elite company, but he has also played the fewest minutes across all competitions on the list, while the others have accrued significant playing time in their respective European competitions.
To further understand Fernandes’ value to West Ham, only club captain Jarrod Bowen (38) has created more Opta-defined chances for the team, according to Opta’s website.
Mateus Fernandes’ 2025/26 Premier League Statistics
| Appearances | Interceptions per 90 | Goals | Assists |
| 32 | 1.01 | 3 | 3 |
Fernandes’ abilities have drawn the attention of top-tier clubs, with reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain and reigning English champions Liverpool both reported to be interested.
Immediate focus for Fernandes and West Ham will remain on maintaining their Premier League status. Successful or not, it is expected to be an in-demand summer for West Ham’s premier performer.
