West Ham agree fee of more than £40m for Fernandes

West Ham United has agreed a deal worth over 40 million pounds (50 million U.S. dollars) to sign Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

The 21-year-old Portuguese is to travel to London for a medical, with the transfer expected to be finalized in the coming days. If completed, Fernandes would become the Hammers' third most expensive signing, behind Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta and striker Sebastien Haller.

Fernandes, who joined Southampton from Sporting CP in 2023, quickly established himself as one of the most highly regarded young midfielders in the Premier League, impressing with his energy, passing range, and ability to carry the ball through midfield.

The move represents a significant boost for manager Graham Potter, who is already under mounting pressure after starting the new season with three consecutive defeats. Fernandes is expected to provide much-needed dynamism in central midfield and could slot into the side immediately once the deal is confirmed.

West Ham is also close to adding further reinforcements, with Monaco's Soungoutou Magassa set to undergo a medical on Thursday. The 21-year-old France U-21 international has built a reputation as a versatile defensive midfielder and was a regular feature in Ligue 1 last season.