Tottenham Hotspur signed Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for a reported club-record fee of $113 million on Thursday.

What happened?

The 21-year-old Fernandes, who wasn't picked to play at the World Cup, was part of the West Ham team relegated on the final day of last season thanks to a last-day win by Tottenham.

Fernandes has moved across London to Spurs, which is rebuilding its squad with recently hired manager Roberto De Zerbi after just about maintaining its top-flight status of nearly 50 years.

Why it matters for Tottenham Hotspur

Centre backs Jan Paul van Hecke and Marco Senesi have already joined, along with former Liverpool left back Andy Robertson, while midfielder Tonali has confirmed he is on his way to Tottenham from Newcastle in a deal the BBC reported could be worth $133 million.

Tottenham sporting director Johan Lange described Fernandes as “a player with outstanding technical ability, intelligence and maturity.” And even at a young age, Lange said, Fernandes “has shown he can perform consistently in demanding, high-pressure environments.”

What comes next?

Tonali's arrival would take Tottenham's spending above $300 million this offseason, as the team looks to rebound from the humiliation of a second straight 17th-place finish in the 20-team Premier League, having been in the top division since the late 1970s, with a current league standing of 17th, 41 points, 10W-11D-17L from 38 games, and recent form WLDWW. The team will not be playing in Europe next season, and is 44 points behind leaders Arsenal. Fernandes said De Zerbi “was a key part of why I have decided to join" for a fee that surpasses the previous biggest outlay by Tottenham — a reported deal worth $83 million to sign Dominic Solanke in August 2024. Tottenham is looking to strengthen its squad and improve its performance, with 48 goals scored and 57 conceded, resulting in a -9 goal difference.