11th hour hijackings, German Bundesliga interest and the longest West Ham negotiations since – Aaron Wan Bissaka – are now confirmed as complete and Mateus Fernandes is confirmed as a West Ham player.
The traditional unveiling was performed on the club website as the Portuguese u21 international was revealed as the latest addition to the Claret and Blue squad, ahead of, and in time, we believe, for a late inclusion into Potter’s match day squad against Nottingham Forest. Knowing Graham Potter’s penchant for caution – which he abandoned with Mads Hermanson’s disastrous debut-it is quite likely that Fernandes will start life on the bench.
Fernandes signing his West Ham contract
Fernandes signs on the dotted line for the Hammers
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But what a relief his addition will be.
We suspect it won’t be long before the Irons complete the double reveal of new signing in midfield Soungoutou Magassa but whether this will be today – who can tell.
Whist the Hammers left it late in the window it now means West Ham have their Rodriguez and Alvarez upgrades which only bodes well for the future, however long they take to bed into the club and whoever is in charge heading into the Premier League this Autumn. A new Portuguese u21 international. The ‘special one’ himself would approve of that.
West Ham are massive?
On his arrival, Fernandes said he was delighted to be at such a big football club: “I’m very happy to be here. I’m very excited to play for West Ham,” said Fernandes. “I think it’s a big step for me.
“It’s a big Club, a massive Club. The project, the stadium, the city, everything. I want to try to play football, enjoy football, not just run and try to score, but try to play good football.
“I think the most important thing is to try to give everything every day.”