So, how do the West Ham United fans really feel about the impending £85 million transfer of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur?
Well, as you would expect given the colossal fee and the less-than-desirable destination, opinions are pretty mixed.
It was confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that Mateus Fernandes is set to become Tottenham’s record signing. West Ham United have extracted a staggering up-front fee of £85 million in the process.
Fernandes to Spurs for £85m! Give us your immediate reaction to the breaking news👇
In the eyes of some, a £45 million profit on a midfielder who spent only one year at the London Stadium, and already has two relegations on his CV, is pretty impressive business. For others, Mateus Fernandes offered a rare source of joy in a miserable 2025/26 campaign. Seeing him strut his stuff in the white of Spurs will be a real dagger to the retinas.
West Ham’s £85 million windfall is a victory for Daniel Kretinsky – the Czech billionaire who refused to budge – but also a shame given where Fernandes will continue on his path towards potential superstardom.
West Ham United fans see the pros and cons of Mateus Fernandes’ Tottenham move
It is highly unlikely that Fernandes will ever be as unpopular as Mohammed Kudus is in this part of the capital – the Portugal international was nothing but uber-professional right until the end – but Spurs signing a second West Ham player in successive summers smarts.
“Hopefully three relegations in a row!,” one fan writes on Hammers News’ Facebook page.
While Kudus’ exit for a knockdown fee of £54.5 million left a sour taste, news of Fernandes’ departure is more bittersweet.
“Fantastic money for a player who, whilst no doubt talented, has suffered back to back relegations,” another fan argues in the hope that West Ham will put that windfall to good use.
“Hopefully that money goes a long way in the Championship. Nice to see the club hold firm on a valuation. Fingers crossed we don’t lose too many more…”
“A nice £45m profit! Shame he’s gone though as I really like him,” another agrees.
“£85 million is a no-brainer, he isn’t even our best player.”
“Would have loved for him to stay but, if he does want to leave, £85 million is a great price. Double what was paid for him.”
“No doubting he’s a good player. But £85 million for a player relegated twice in two seasons? Got to be great business.”
“Great player. Now? Not worth £85 million. Has a high bar but, for that amount, we have to take it. Great business.”
“Whoever brokered the deal, well done. £85 million after one good season is some brilliant business.”
“Mateus is an amazing player with an unbelievable amount of fight and drive, but we would have been nuts to not take an £85 million offer for him. Beyond that, and maybe I’m crazy, but it feels like way too often I was screaming at the TV because he would commit ridiculous fouls that caused us to lose momentum.
“Incredibly talented but young, impulsive, and hot-headed on the pitch. I wish he could have grown here, but I don’t blame us for selling at that price. He is on Spurs now, though, so I have to hate him by default!”
Take a look at West Ham’s ins and outs this summer – What deal stands out most to you?
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Some Hammers fans wanted Fernandes to join Manchester United
That last fan raises a very good, and extremely articulate, point.
Now to blow our own horn, but Hammers News knew that Mateus Fernandes had a good chance of earning West Ham a major profit. At the age of just 21, and with the sort of skillset he possesses, a man with very few obvious weaknesses in his game is precisely the kind of all-action athlete most managers look for these days.
In an era where the Elliot Andersons are going for well in excess of £100 million, £85 million for Fernandes doesn’t feel too ridiculous.
Yet, while Fernandes is your proverbial ‘jack of all trades’, he is a master of nothing just yet. He would often switch off, struggle to track runners, and a tally of three goals and four assists from 35 starts is hardly stellar from a midfielder who would consider himself to be an attack-minded number eight.
Tottenham, of course, are paying for Fernandes’ potential. He is certainly not lacking in that department. But there is a reason why Manchester United initially valued Fernandes closer to the £60 million mark and opted against matching Spurs’ eye-watering £85 million up-front bid.
“For 85 million, thank you,” one fan writes before expressing his regret about the outcome of a two-horse race. “I’d rather he’d gone to Man U but I guess maybe he’ll get his hat-trick [of relegations].”
“Not a bright move; the team that was one place and two points above us. You’d think he would want to go to a big club!”
“We should never sell our players to Spurs. Sell them up north.”
“Personally, I think it’s a total disgrace that we are selling another player to Tottenham. Tottenham should’ve got relegated last season and instead we did and now we’re selling them our best players to make them better.
“It’s a disgrace.”
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