Dragan Solak has outlined the emotional reason behind Mateus Fernandes £42m Southampton exit during the final days of the 2025 summer transfer window.
One of 2026’s biggest Premier League transfer stories revolves around Mateus Fernandes future. Currently at West Ham, the former Saints midfielder is constantly getting linked with a massive Manchester United move amidst a staggering £85m asking price.
Should a move go through, it’ll be the second time in a row that Fernandes changes clubs. One year ago, Southampton sold Fernandes to West Ham in a £42m deal just days before the summer transfer deadline. Now, there was obviously interest in Fernandes for a long while until that point but Southampton did well to fend off transfer talks.
Fernandes also featured thrice for Southampton in the 2025/26 Championship and even scored the 1-0 winner in a tough Carabao Cup first round tie against Northampton Town. So, what changed then? Why did Southampton offload the Portuguese midfielder at the last moment, for the same transfer fee they were rejecting all along?
Dragan Solak outlines emotional reason behind Mateus Fernandes £42m exit
Turns out, one meeting led Southampton to change their 2025 Mateus Fernandes transfer stance altogether. Ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline, Fernandes met club owner and chairman Dragan Solak and explained an emotional reason for wanting out.
According to a Daily Echo report, Solak recalled that moment: “Last summer we realised that we cannot keep Matty Fernandes. He actually broke me when he told me why he could not stay. He came to me, and he said, ‘If I stay in Southampton, I will never get to play for the Portuguese national team,’ and I said, ‘Okay, that’s fair.’
“After that, I said to him, ‘Okay, bring me the money I want, because we really value you. Bring me the money you want, and then I will let you go.'”
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What followed was Southampton negotiating a £42m fee + 15% sell-on clause with West Ham to part ways with Fernandes. Back then, it was a pity that Saints couldn’t keep hold of him but the move turned a success for all parties involved.
Southampton put those Fernandes funds to upgrade the squad and were on the verge of reaching the Championship playoff final until the ‘Spygate’ punishment arrived. West Ham turned a poor start to the season thanks to Fernandes exploits but narrowly lost the relegation battle to Tottenham Hotspur.
As for the 21-year-old, he indeed made his Portugal national team debut as a late substitute in the 2-0 friendly win over USA.
Who can be Southampton’s most expensive 2026 sale?
Mateus Fernandes £42m West Ham switch was Southampton’s biggest 2025 transfer sale. He was closely followed by Tyler Dibling’s £40m exit to Everton. That said, who can be Southampton’s most expensive 2026 sale?
Well, the answer seems pretty clear at the moment. Shea Charles. As long as Charles opts to leave Southampton for a Premier League club. Man United and Everton have made their intentions clear on wanting Charles in their midfield ranks, and the Northern Irishman’s current performances can’t help but give the impression that his St. Mary’s days are numbered.
Yesterday, Shea Charles starred for Northern Ireland against FIFA World Cup favourites France, registering an assist and creating multiple chances in a 3-1 defeat. Charles is enjoying the form of his life in 2026, and if a £35-40m bid came, Southampton will likely accept it just as they did with Fernandes sale.
Rest, let’s see how does Southampton’s 2026 summer transfer window turns out in general.
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