Spurs sign Fernandes for club record £85m

Mateus Fernandes has made 72 Premier League starts over the past two seasons

Tottenham have completed the signing of midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a club-record fee of £85m.

Spurs have not confirmed the length of contract for the 21-year-old, who has played once for Portugal but is not part of their World Cup squad.

Fernandes has spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham, although each club were relegated to the Championship.

“I’ve admired Mateus for a long time because he combines quality on the ball with the intensity and intelligence that are so important in the way we want to play,” said Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi.

“Despite his age, he already has good experience in the Premier League and has shown quality and consistency at this level.

“Mateus is comfortable under pressure, can progress the ball, works hard for the team and has the courage to make things happen in difficult moments.

“I believe this is the ideal environment for him to continue his development.”

Tottenham saw off competition from Manchester United, who were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs - which is a guaranteed £85m without add-ons.

Fernandes was viewed as a primary target for the north London club after they had a bid for Sandro Tonali rejected by Newcastle.

However, Spurs have now agreed a £100m fee for the Italy midfielder.

They have made a fast start to the summer transfer window, with Fernandes their fifth signing already.

His arrival follows that of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka plus defenders Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke.

“I’m very excited for this next step,” Fernandes said. “Spurs is a massive club and the head coach was a key part of why I have decided to join.

“When we spoke, it was very special. We look at football in the same way - going onto the pitch as a strong team, with fight and energy, to try to win every game.”

Uefa will not use red cards for players who cover mouth

Players who cover their mouths in confrontations with opponents will not be shown red cards in Uefa competitions, it was confirmed on Thursday.

European football’s governing body will not take up the option to use the law in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.

The issue of players covering their mouths became high profile in February when Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni raised his shirt while speaking to Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a Champions League game.

The Argentina international was accused of racist abuse and provisionally banned for one match. Following a Uefa investigation, Prestianni was found guilty of homophobic conduct and banned for six matches - three of which were suspended.

The law change for a red card was the brainchild of Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who wanted something which would have “a deterrent effect” at the World Cup.

It was approved by the International Football Association Board (Ifab) in April.

Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron was the first player to be sent off in his side’s World Cup group game against Turkey. Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie then saw red in Ecuador’s last-16 exit to co-hosts Mexico.

Both players were dismissed following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Despite the Prestianni incident happening in its own flagship competition, Uefa has decided against using Infantino’s opt-in.

Uefa said referees should asses situations individually and consider whether a yellow card should be shown if it is “an attempt to conceal communication as an act of unsporting behaviour”.

It added: “This is obviously without prejudice to any disciplinary investigation or proceedings that may follow as a consequence of, or in connection with, such behaviour.”

The law change has been controversial as it presents the presumption of guilt rather than innocence.

There have been concerns it could be used to get an opponent sent off when nothing abusive has been said.

It has also caused confusion, with England’s Jude Bellingham not sent off when covering his mouth in conversation with Ghana’s Jordan Ayew in their group game.

Uefa, though, will exercise the option of the VAR checking incorrect corners, with 22 reversed to a goal-kick so far at the World Cup.

But it will not issue red cards to players who leave the field in protest at a referee’s decision - another law brought in at the discretion of a competition organiser.

All done deals in July 2026

The transfer window for Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League clubs - and their counterparts in Germany, France, Spain and Italy - re-opened on 15 June.

Take a look at all the confirmed deals for July, and read the latest rumours in Football Gossip.

Dan Neil [Sunderland - Rangers] Free

Women’s Super League

Amalie Vangsgaard [Juventus - Aston Villa] Undisclosed

English Football League

Akin Famewo [Hull - Bolton] Undisclosed

This page covers signings by Premier League, English Football League, Scottish Premiership and Women’s Super League clubs, along with selected deals from overseas.

Cambridge United sign Ahadme as Lavery agrees new deal

Cambridge United have re-signed forward Gassan Ahadme on a season-long loan deal from Charlton Athletic while striker Shayne Lavery has returned to the club on a 12-month contract.

Ahadme, 25, spent last season on loan with Cambridge’s League One rivals Stevenage, scoring four goals in 17 appearances in all competitions before a hip injury curtailed his campaign in December.

While an Ipswich Town player, he was on loan at Cambridge in the 2023/24 season where he scored 11 goals in 29 League One games.

“I am really happy to be back. I have good memories of the season I had here, but I am trying to hit new levels and I am expecting a lot of myself,” he told the club website.

Northern Ireland international Shayne Lavery has signed a new one year deal at The Abbey Stadium having spent the past two seasons at the club, helping them to promotion from League Two last season.

The 27-year-old featured in 30 games, scoring seven goals as the U’s secured promotion on the final day of the season with a 0-0 draw at Crewe.

Lavery had become a free agent at the end of the season but is pleased to commit himself to the club for at least a further year.

“It [a return] was always a possibility. There was just a bit of waiting time, but I am buzzing to still be here and can’t wait to get going,” he said.

“The gaffer and the staff found a good way of managing my minutes and I am looking forward to staying fit, scoring goals and helping the team.”

Spurs agree deal worth up to £100m for Newcastle's Tonali

Sandro Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in 2023.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to break their transfer record for a second time this week after agreeing a deal worth up to £100m with Newcastle United for midfielder Sandro Tonali.

Spurs previously had a bid of about £80m rejected by Newcastle, but are now set to pay an initial £92.5m plus a further £7.5m in add-ons.

BBC Sport previously reported that manager Roberto de Zerbi is a long-time admirer of the Italian international.

De Zerbi identified his countryman as a target during his time in charge of Sassuolo several years ago when Tonali was playing in Serie A.

And Spurs will now top the £85m agreement struck with West Ham this week for midfielder Mateus Fernandes in order to bring Tonali to North London.

Manchester City and Arsenal also showed an interest in Tonali, as BBC Sport previously reported, but neither club made a formal approach.

The 26-year-old joined Newcastle from AC Milan for £55m in July 2023.

He was banned for 10 months by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for breaching betting rules shortly after his arrival.

But the midfielder went on to help Newcastle win their first major domestic trophy in 70 years - the 2025 Carabao Cup - following his return.

Tonali also played an influential role in the club qualifying for the Champions League later that same season.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are understood to have made positive progress in their bid to sign Hoffenheim’s 20-year-old Ivory Coast winger Bazoumana Toure.

The club have been searching for a replacement for Anthony Gordon, who joined Barcelona for £69.3m.

De Zerbi could not have been clearer.

The Spurs manager had just kept his side up on the final day, following a 1-0 win against Everton, but this was not a time for celebration.

He was already looking ahead to the summer to ensure the club were never in this situation again.

“My target is to start the pre-season with the team I have in my dream,” he said in his final news conference last season.

That dream is quickly becoming a reality for the Italian following an aggressive start to the window from Spurs.

Defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi have arrived on free transfers and the club could end up spending a combined £237m on centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke and midfielders Fernandes and Tonali.

Spurs may have finished in 17th in back-to-back seasons, but the club are feeling the benefit of strong off-the-field revenues as they look to bounce back.

Newcastle, by contrast, have effectively needed to trade to reinvest.

The sight of Alexander Isak, Gordon and Tonali all leaving the club in the space of less than a year is sobering.

So the spotlight will very much now be on incomings.

After missing out on forward Victor Munoz, who joined Liverpool, Newcastle need reinforcements as they look to finalise a deal for Toure.

The club have so far only signed 20-year-old goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen this summer, who will likely start the season as a deputy, having never played top-flight football before.

There is little margin for error with pre-season right around the corner.