“Moyes’ £17.2M Blunder: West Ham’s Legendary Fernandes Dumped in Jaw-Dropping ‘Unbelievable’ Transfer Disaster!”
With the summer transfer window now firmly shut, it’s fair to conclude that West Ham United enjoyed a rather productive period of business.
The club made several smart additions that have already begun to improve Graham Potter’s squad, suggesting the groundwork is in place for a solid campaign.
Perhaps the standout recruit is Mateus Fernandes. The Portuguese midfielder arrived with a strong reputation after an eye-catching debut season in the Premier League with Southampton.
His creativity and technical quality instantly caught the eye, and many fans are already tipping him to become a key figure in East London.
However, the arrival of Fernandes has drawn an interesting comparison to a former Hammer who once held a similar role under David Moyes.
Assessing West Ham’s window
Alongside Fernandes, West Ham brought in several other exciting players. One of the most promising signings is El Hadji Malick Diouf, who cost £19 million from Slavia Prague.
That fee might have raised eyebrows, but the Senegalese defender has quickly proven his value.
He impressed during pre-season, and in just three league outings and a Carabao Cup tie, he has already contributed two assists from left-back and wing-back.
On the opposite flank, Kyle Walker-Peters has started brightly as well. The versatile full-back, signed amid competition from multiple clubs, already has an assist to his name from three appearances.
Meanwhile, Callum Wilson—whose move initially sparked mixed reactions—opened his account with a goal in the victory over Nottingham Forest, easing any doubts about his ability to deliver.
When you add in highly-rated youngster Soungoutou Magassa and Fernandes himself, the window looks increasingly like a strong one.
Each player has settled well, and by the season’s end, the business could be judged as a turning point in West Ham’s rebuild.
The original Fernandes at West Ham
Yet, Fernandes is not the first midfielder of his profile to don claret and blue. Pablo Fornals, signed in 2019 for around £24 million, had previously filled a comparable role.
The Spaniard went on to make over 200 appearances, scoring 23 goals and providing 19 assists.
He was instrumental in West Ham’s European adventures, including their famous Conference League triumph.
Despite his contributions, Fornals’ influence declined by the 2023/24 season. With game time limited, West Ham sanctioned his sale to Real Betis for just £6.8 million in January, absorbing a hefty £17.2 million loss.
Why the comparison?
So why are fans and analysts drawing parallels between Fernandes and Fornals? According to FBref’s statistical model, Fernandes ranks as the fourth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to Fornals across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year.
The likeness is reflected in key underlying metrics: non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, ball recoveries, carries into the penalty area, and passing accuracy per 90 minutes.
Both are creative passers and effective ball carriers, with similar profiles in terms of contribution and style.
Final word
All things considered, Fernandes looks an astute signing for West Ham. If his resemblance to Fornals—one of the club’s most popular players in recent years—is anything to go by, fans can be confident they have another technically gifted midfielder capable of making a big impact.
