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FC·TRANSACTION·July 2, 2026 06:38 AM ET

Mateus Fernandes completes £85m move to Tottenham, takes No. 18

Spurs win the Fernandes race with £85m deal.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Jul 21 min read
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🚨⚪️ Mateus Fernandes, new Spurs number 18 after £85m move completed. “I'm very excited for this next step. Spurs is a m

What happened: Mateus Fernandes has completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur in a deal worth £85m, and will wear the number 18 shirt. The midfielder said he was excited for the step and credited manager Roberto De Zerbi as central to his decision, saying the two share the same view of football.

Why it matters: The signing lands one of the summer's most-chased midfielders and hands De Zerbi a marquee addition to build his Spurs midfield around. Fernandes had drawn sustained interest across the market, including Manchester United's pursuit around the same £85m valuation, making Tottenham's completed deal a notable win in the race.

By the numbers: Fee: £85m, matching the valuation West Ham had long held out for. Squad number: 18. The move follows weeks of reported negotiations in which Tottenham emerged with the leading offer.

What to watch: Attention turns to how quickly De Zerbi integrates Fernandes into the Spurs midfield and whether the club adds further reinforcements before the season opens.

Sources

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