Paolo Fernandes Cantin (born 19 August 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Greek Super League club AEK Athens. Mainly a left winger, he also plays as an attacking midfielder.[2]

Paolo Fernandes
Fernandes with Manchester City in 2017
Personal information
Full name Paolo Fernandes Cantin[1]
Date of birth (1998-08-19) 19 August 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Zaragoza, Spain
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Right-winger
Team information
Current team
AEK Athens
Number 22
Youth career
2010–2013 Zaragoza
2013–2017 Manchester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Manchester City 0 (0)
2017–2019NAC Breda (loan) 33 (2)
2019–2020Perugia (loan) 13 (0)
2020–2021 Castellón 10 (0)
2021–2022 Volos 31 (6)
2022– AEK Athens 25 (2)
2022Volos (loan) 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:00, 10 November 2024 (UTC)

Club career

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Manchester City

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Born in Zaragoza, Aragon to a Capeverdean father,[3][4] Fernandes started his career at Real Zaragoza. In 2013, aged 15, he joined Manchester City after being invited to train for the squad.[5] Zaragoza later claimed to the Royal Spanish Football Federation that the player was not allowed to join City,[6] and the English club agreed to pay a compensation fee for the move (rumoured to be 180,000);[7] despite still training at City, he was only registered in August 2014 when he reached the age of 16.[8]

Initially assigned to the under-18 squad, Fernandes progressed through the EDS and represented the under-21s and under-23s. With the latter side he scored 11 goals in 22 appearances in the 2016–17 Premier League 2 Division 1.

Loan to NAC Breda

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On 24 June 2017, after finishing his formation, Fernandes, Thierry Ambrose and fellow compatriot Pablo Marí were loaned to Eredivisie side Breda.[9] He made his professional debut on 12 August, coming on as a half-time substitute for Giovanni Korte in a 1–4 away loss against Vitesse.

Fernandes scored his first professional goal on 3 December 2017, netting his team's third in a 3–1 home win against Excelsior. The following 12 July, his loan was extended for a further season,[10] but only contributed with eight league appearances.

Loan to Perugia

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On 17 July 2019, Fernandes joined Serie B side Perugia on loan for the 2019–20 season.[11] He appeared in 16 league matches overall, totalling ten starts.

Castellón

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Fernandes joined Segunda División newcomers Castellón on 3 September 2020, signing a three-year contract.[12]

Volos

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On 29 June 2021, he was announced from the Greek Super League club Volos as their newest addition, their 7th transfer for the upcoming season, until now, with a brief announcement that does not disclose the duration of the contract signed.[13] On 19 September 2021, he scored his first goal in a 3–1 away win against Apollon Smyrnis.[14]

AEK Athens

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On 15 September 2022, Fernandes signed a four-year contract with Greek Super League club AEK Athens. The player will join the club permanently on 1 January 2023.[15]

Career statistics

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As of match played 10 November 2024[2]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
NAC Breda (loan) 2017–18 Eredivisie 25 2 0 0 25 2
2018–19 8 0 1 0 9 0
Total 33 2 1 0 34 2
Perugia (loan) 2019–20 Serie B 13 0 3 0 16 0
Castellón 2020–21 Segunda División 10 0 2 1 12 1
Volos 2021–22 Superleague Greece 27 5 3 1 30 6
2022–23 4 1 0 0 4 1
Total 31 6 3 1 34 7
Volos (loan) 2022–23 Superleague Greece 9 2 2 0 11 2
AEK Athens 2022–23 14 1 5 1 19 2
2023–24 8 0 1 0 9 0
2024–25 3 1 1 0 3 0 7 1
Total 25 2 7 1 3 0 0 0 35 3
Career total 121 12 18 3 3 0 0 0 142 15

Honours

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AEK Athens

References

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  1. ^ "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b Paolo Fernandes at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  3. ^ Brennan, Stuart (27 June 2017). "Is Man City youngster Paolo Fernandes about to become a Dutch sensation?".
  4. ^ "Criolos no Estrangeiro: Paolo Fernandes emprestado ao NAC Breda pelo Manchester City" [Criolos in the foreign lands: Paolo Fernandes loaned to NAC Breda by Manchester City] (in Portuguese). Criolo Sports. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Un aragonés en la corte de Pep" [An Aragonese in Pep's court] (in Spanish). Heraldo de Aragón. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Lío con el futbolista cadete Paolo Fernandes" [Trouble with cadete footballer Paolo Fernandes] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Los ingresos que volaron" [The incomes that flew away] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 26 February 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  8. ^ "El City ya ha pagado por el cadete Paolo Fernandes" [City already paid for cadete Paolo Fernandes] (in Spanish). El Periódico de Aragón. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Man City trio complete loan moves to NAC Breda". Goal.com. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Paolo Fernandes blijft bij NAC" [Paolo Fernandes stays with NAC] (in Dutch). NAC Breda. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 12 July 2018. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Paolo Fernandes è biancorosso" [Paolo Fernandes is red and white]. AC Perugia Calcio (in Italian). 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  12. ^ "FICHAJE: Paolo Fernandes, nuevo jugador del CD Castellón" [SIGNING: Paolo Fernandes, new CD Castellón player] (in Spanish). CD Castellén. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Φερνάντες ο… έβδομος για τον Βόλο" [Fernandes... the seventh of Volos]. www.sport-fm.gr (in Greek). 29 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Απόλλων Σμύρνης - Βόλος 1-3: Πέρασαν με τριάρα από τη Ριζούπολη και έκαναν το δύο στα δύο οι Θεσσαλοί". www.sport24.gr. 19 September 2021.
  15. ^ "AEK FC signs Paolo Fernandes!". aekfc.gr. Online. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
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