Paolo Fernandes

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Fernandesand the second or maternal family name is Cantin.

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 27)
Place of birth	Zaragoza, Spain
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position	Right-winger
Team information
Current team	Al-Khaleej (on loan from AEK Athens)
Number	11
Youth career
2010–2013	Zaragoza
2013–2017	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	Manchester City	0	(0)
2017–2019	→ NAC Breda (loan)	33	(2)
2019–2020	→ Perugia (loan)	13	(0)
2020–2021	Castellón	10	(0)
2021–2022	Volos	31	(6)
2022–	AEK Athens	41	(2)
2022	→ Volos (loan)	9	(2)
2025–	→ Al-Khaleej (loan)	8	(2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 6 November 2025

Paolo Fernandes Cantin (born 19 August 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Khaleej, on loan from AEK Athens. Mainly a left winger, he also plays as an attacking midfielder. ^[2]

Club career

Manchester City

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

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

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

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

Volos

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

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

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

AEK Athens

• Super League Greece: 2022–23
• Greek Cup: 2022–23

References

1. "Updated squads for 2017/18 Premier League confirmed". Premier League. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
2. 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. Archived from the original on 31 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.

External links

• Paolo Fernandes at BDFutbol
• Paolo Fernandes at Soccerway