Emmanuel Fernandez (footballer)

Emmanuel Fernandez

Personal information
Full name	Emmanuel Oluwasegun Opeyemi Fernandez [1]
Date of birth	(2001-07-17) 17 July 2001 (age 24) [2]
Place of birth	Nigeria
Height	1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) [3]
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Rangers
Number	37
Youth career
2017–2018	Brentford
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2020	Gillingham	0	(0)
2019	→ Sheppey United (loan)	10	(0)
2019	→ Margate (loan)	1	(0)
2020–2021	Ramsgate	0	(0)
2021–2025	Peterborough United	38	(5)
2021	→ Spalding United (loan)	1	(0)
2023	→ Barnet (loan)	8	(0)
2025–	Rangers	0	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:52, 21 August 2025 (UTC)

Emmanuel Oluwasegun Opeyemi Fernandez (born 17 July 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Rangers.

Career

Early career

He began his career with Brentford and Gillingham, ^[4] and whilst at Gillingham spent time on loan at Sheppey United and Margate. ^{[5] [6] [7]} After being released by Gillingham he played for Ramsgate. ^[8]

Peterborough United

Fernandez signed a two-year contract with Peterborough United in July 2021. ^{[8] [9]} He made his debut on 2 April 2022 in a "surprise" selection in a 0–4 home defeat against Middlesbrough. ^[10] In November 2021, Fernandez joined Spalding United on loan, ^[11] making one appearance. ^[12] In March 2023, he joined Barnet on loan until the end of the season. ^[13]

Rangers

In July 2025, Fernandez joined Scottish Premiership club Rangers for an undisclosed fee. ^[14]

Personal life

Fernandez was born in Nigeria, but was raised in England. ^{[15] [16]} He wears number 37 to honour his brother who passed away at 37 years old. ^[17]

Career statistics

As of match played 16 August 2025

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Gillingham	2018–19 [18]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2019–20 [19]	League Two	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Sheppey United (loan)	2018–19 [6] [20]	SCEL Premier Division	10	0	0	0	—		2	0	12	0
Margate (loan)	2019–20 [21] [20]	Isthmian League Premier Division	1	0	1	0	—		0	0	2	0
Ramsgate	2020–21 [22]	Isthmian League South East Division	0	0	0	0	—		0	0	0	0
Peterborough United	2021–22 [23]	Championship	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
	2022–23 [24]	League One	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2023–24 [25]	League One	7	0	3	1	1	0	7 [a]	1	18	2
	2024–25 [26]	League One	30	5	3	0	1	0	8	0	42	5
	Total		38	5	6	1	2	0	15	1	61	7
Spalding United (loan)	2021–22 [12]	Northern Premier League Division One Midlands	1	0	0	0	—		0	0	1	0
Barnet (loan)	2022–23 [3] [27]	National League	8	0	0	0	—		1 [b]	1	9	1
Rangers	2025–26 [28]	Scottish Premiership	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	1
Career total			58	5	7	1	3	1	19	2	87	9

1. 6 appearances and 1 goal in the EFL Trophy, 1 appearance in the play-offs.
2. Appearance in the FA Trophy.

Honours

Peterborough United

• EFL Trophy: 2024–25 ^[29]

References

1. "Homepage" (PDF). EFL.
2. "Emmanuel Fernandez". www.rangers.co.uk. 3 July 2025.
3. "England - E. Fernandez - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
4. "New Peterborough United signing's contract is a reward for persistence over heartbreak". www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk. 12 July 2021.
5. "Scholars agree work experience deals". www.gillinghamfootballclub.com.
6. "Emmanuel Oluwasegun Opeyemi Fernandez player stats | Southern Counties East Football League". fulltime.thefa.com.
7. "PLAYER NEWS | Two Additions To Margate Squad". www.margate-fc.co.uk.
8. "Posh swoop for former Gills youngster". Kent Online. 10 July 2021.
9. "Fernandez Agrees Two-Year Deal". www.theposh.com.
10. "REPORT: PETERBOROUGH UNITED 0, MIDDLESBROUGH 4: The end is nigh for Posh after a spanking from Boro". www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk. 2 April 2022.
11. Ray, James (13 November 2021). "Peterborough United summer signings Ethan Bojang, Emmanuel Fernandez join club legend at Spalding United".
12. "Peterborough United teenagers join Gaby Zakuani's Spalding on loan". Peterborough Telegraph. 13 November 2021.
13. "Fernandez is a Bee! - Barnet Football Club".
14. "Rangers sign Bournemouth's Joe Rothwell and Peterborough United's Emmanuel Fernandez". BBC Sport. 2 July 2025.
15. "Rangers Sign Nigerian-Born Defender Emmanuel Fernandez on Four-Year Deal". Talk Talk Nigeria. 3 July 2025.
16. Oyebola, Mike (3 July 2025). "Transfer: Rangers snap up Nigerian eligible defender, Fernandez". Daily Post Nigeria.
17. "'To honour my brother I wear the number 37 on my back' Getting To Know Emmanuel Fernandez". YouTube. 4 July 2025.
18. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
19. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
20. "Emmanuel Fernandez | Player Profile · Aylesbury United Archive". www.aylesburyunitedarchive.com.
21. "Margate | Appearances | Emmanuel Fernandez | 2019-2020 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
22. "Ramsgate | Appearances | 2020-2021 | Football Web Pages".
23. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
24. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
25. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
26. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
27. "Match Report | Gateshead 3-3 (4-1) Barnet (FA Trophy Semi-Final) - Barnet Football Club".
28. "Games played by Emmanuel Fernandez in 2025/2026". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
29. Speller, Glenn (13 April 2025). "Birmingham City 0–2 Peterborough United". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 April 2025.