Tottenham Hotspur has agreed an £85 million deal to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, according to Sky Sports.
The transfer, finalized on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, surpasses Tottenham's previous record purchase of £65 million for Dominic Solanke in 2024.
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The 21-year-old Portugal international is now preparing to undergo a medical examination before completing the move.
Tottenham beat rival interest from Manchester United, who withdrew from the race after refusing to exceed their internal valuation.
Sky Sports also reported that United remained uncertain about the player's desire to join them.
Fernandes' Development Praised by Former Coaches
Former Southampton coach Simon Rusk praised Fernandes' defensive capabilities, noting his high tackling statistics. "That's no surprise that his tackling stats are very high," Rusk said.
He added that the player's physical commitment was obvious during training and matches.
Former Southampton manager Russell Martin explained how Fernandes' role evolved. Initially used as a No. 10, Fernandes expressed a preference for playing deeper.
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"He saw himself as more of an all-round midfield player, more of a No. 8," Martin said.
Martin highlighted Fernandes' exceptional work rate and stamina, saying, "What Matty wanted to do, he wanted to run.
He wanted to be involved in the game as much as possible."
Martin also noted that Fernandes' game intelligence improved during his time at West Ham.
"Looking at his performances at West Ham this year, he certainly moved forward in terms of his game intelligence," Martin said.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo now faces a squad rebuild following the club's relegation to the Championship.
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Meanwhile, the Evening Standard reported that Tottenham will next target Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali to further overhaul their squad.
