Mateus Fernandes will become the second West Ham player in 12 months to join bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur as Manchester United back out in the race for the Portugal international.
Only one year after Daniel Levy convinced David Sullivan to accept £54.5 million for Mohammed Kudus – a lower fee than West Ham United were initially demanding – Mateus Fernandes is set to join the Ghanaian in North London for a fee that will make him the most expensive signing in Spurs history.
Fernandes to Spurs for £85m! Give us your immediate reaction to the breaking news👇
Tottenham are paying £85m up-front for West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes
It is no secret that Fernandes was dreaming of a move to Manchester United.
However, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Red Devils were unwilling to match either the fee offered or the wages put forward by their big-spending rivals. Ornstein reports that Tottenham are paying a guaranteed £85 million for a midfielder who, while preferring Old Trafford, never closed the door on Roberto de Zerbi’s side.
This means that Fernandes will become the second-biggest sale in West Ham’s history, following the £105 million deal which took Declan Rice to Arsenal in 2023.
Jorge Mendes and West Ham have played a blinder in negotiations; refusing to cave as Man United looked to secure a deal below their asking price, while playing on Tottenham’s obvious desperation following successive 17th place finishes.
This means that West Ham have brought in £140 million from Spurs in the last two windows. The Hammers are also doubling the fee they paid Southampton for Fernandes in August 2025.
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