Tottenham agree £85m deal for West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, beating Manchester United to club-record signing

The deal

Tottenham have won the race to sign Mateus Fernandes after agreeing a guaranteed fee of £85 million with West Ham United. The deal, which does not include add-ons, makes the 21-year-old Portugal international the most expensive player in Spurs history, eclipsing the £65 million paid for Dominic Solanke two years ago. Fernandes underwent a medical and agreed a long-term contract; N-tv reported that the overall package could reach €95 million to €100 million once bonuses are included.

Manchester United had pursued Fernandes but refused to match Tottenham's offer, with the club viewing both the transfer fee and the player's salary demands as excessive. United, who need midfield reinforcements after Casemiro's contract expired and Manuel Ugarte's World Cup knee injury, will now target other options, including Atalanta's Ederson.

We pledged to be all in to fund the rebuild.

Spurs' new spending era

Fernandes becomes Spurs' fifth summer signing under manager Roberto De Zerbi, who guided the club to Premier League safety last month at West Ham's expense. The Lewis family, who control majority shareholder ENIC, have dismantled the rigid wage structure of the Daniel Levy era and backed De Zerbi with significant funds. Chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has already overseen the arrivals of Conor Gallagher, Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi (both free transfers), and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for £52 million. Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka will join on a free transfer from Burnley on 1 July.

The aggressive spending marks a sharp departure from the club's past, reflecting the Lewis family's determination to lift Tottenham out of consecutive 17th-place finishes.

West Ham's fire sale

West Ham's relegation from the Premier League has forced a painful but lucrative rebuild. The sale of Fernandes is the highest fee ever received by a Championship club and will help address last year's £104.2 million loss. Daniel Kretinsky, poised to become the largest shareholder, is expected to inject fresh capital, but further exits are likely. Winger Crysencio Summerville is a target for United and Chelsea, while captain Jarrod Bowen is monitored by several top-flight clubs. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo are also expected to leave.

The player's journey

Fernandes joined West Ham from Southampton for £38 million in August 2025 and was one of the team's few bright spots during a doomed campaign, making 36 league appearances, scoring three goals and providing four assists. His form also attracted interest from Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. A senior Portugal debut against the United States came in April 2026, but he missed out on Roberto Martinez's World Cup squad. The midfielder previously played for Sporting CP and spent one season at Southampton, suffering back-to-back relegations with both south-coast and east-London sides. At Spurs, he will compete for a place alongside Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, though the latter has asked to leave.