Rafael Fernandes (footballer)

Rafael Tavares Gomes Fernandes (born 28 June 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Ligue 1 club Lille.

Rafael Fernandes
Personal information
Full name Rafael Tavares Gomes Fernandes
Date of birth (2002-06-28) 28 June 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Setúbal, Portugal
Height 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
Lille
Number 28
Youth career
2010–2021 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2022 Sporting CP B 16 (3)
2022–2024 Arouca 13 (0)
2024– Lille 0 (0)
International career
2019–2020 Portugal U18 6 (0)
2021–2022 Portugal U20 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:49, 31 January 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:04, 14 November 2023 (UTC)

Professional career

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A youth product of Sporting CP since 2010, he started playing with their reserves in the 2021-22 season.[1] On 11 July 2022, he transferred to Arouca in the Primeira Liga signing a three-year contract.[2] He made his professional debut as a half-time substitute in a 4–0 Primeira Liga loss to Benfica on 5 August 2022.[3]

On 31 January 2024, Fernandes moved to Ligue 1 side Lille, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract.[4] The French club paid a reported €3 million transfer fee.[5]

International career

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Fernandes is a youth international for Portugal, having played for the Portugal U18s and U20s.[6]

References

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  1. ^ "Lugar a Rafael Fernandes na ausência de Coates na defesa do Sporting". www.record.pt.
  2. ^ "Rafael Fernandes blindado pelo Arouca por 10 M€". www.record.pt.
  3. ^ "Águias vencem o primeiro jogo do campeonato com goleada frente ao Arouca". www.cmjornal.pt.
  4. ^ "Le défenseur portugais, Rafael Fernandes, est Lillois" [The Portuguese defender, Rafael Fernandes, is of Lille] (in French). Lille OSC. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Oficial: Rafael Fernandes deixa Arouca e assina pelo Lille até 2028" [Official: Rafael Fernandes leaves Arouca and signs for Lille until 2028]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 January 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Internacional sub-20 Rafael Fernandes deixa Sporting e reforça Arouca". 11 July 2022.
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