Tottenham’s Mateus Fernandes scores stunning goal on debut

By George Aldridge — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Fernandes’ impactful debut

Mateus Fernandes made a notable debut for Tottenham in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday, scoring what he described as the “best goal of his career” within three minutes of the match. The goal came during a 1-0 victory over League One side MK Dons, a match where manager Roberto de Zerbi assessed his players.

Fernandes, a 22-year-old, struck a first-time volley into the top corner from approximately 20 yards out. The goal was scored after he met MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray’s long punch clear from a corner, with the ball hitting the post before entering the net. He later stated, “It was my favourite goal of my career. By a mile.” He also expressed a desire to shoot more from outside the box, acknowledging his capability.

The midfielder, who joined Tottenham from West Ham, partnered with Sandro Tonali in a midfield double pivot. Both players were substituted at half-time as De Zerbi made changes to the squad. During their time on the pitch, Fernandes and Tonali were noted for dominating the midfield, with Tonali providing decisive play on the ball and offering guidance to his new teammates.

Other debuts and pre-season activities

Goalkeeper Martin Dubravka also made his first appearance for Tottenham since joining from Burnley in June. He entered the game at half-time, replacing Antonin Kinsky. Dubravka made a sharp save from close range, reacting quickly to push a header from six yards over the bar, despite there being limited action for either of Tottenham’s goalkeepers during the match.

The friendly against MK Dons served as an early pre-season fixture. While acknowledged as not a definitive test due to the opponent being from two divisions lower, the match still offered moments of quality for Tottenham supporters. Former Tottenham defender Sebastian Bassong, speaking on the club’s media channels, praised Fernandes’ strike, drawing comparisons to goals scored by Gareth Bale and Zinedine Zidane.

Tottenham’s pre-season schedule includes a trip to New Zealand, where the team will face A-League side Auckland FC in a friendly at Eden Park on Sunday. This match is scheduled for a 04:00 BST kick-off. The club’s pre-season matches, including behind-closed-doors friendlies, are available to watch live on SPURSPLAY, the club’s video platform.

The SPURSPLAY platform offers live coverage of all seven confirmed Men’s First Team pre-season games, including those in New Zealand and Australia. Additionally, SPURSPLAY will feature live Under-18 and Under-21 home matches, select Under-21 away matches, and Women’s First Team matches throughout the 2026/27 season. Subscribers also gain access to a library of historical video content, including highlights from over 1000 games from the last 17 years.

Access to SPURSPLAY is included as a benefit for One Hotspur+ Members and Season Ticket Holders. Alternatively, an annual subscription is available for £45, with a reduced rate of £35 for One Hotspur Members. The platform requires users to log in to their Club account and complete a subscription process.

The Men’s First Team pre-season fixtures include:

• Spurs vs MK Dons – Wednesday 22 July – 5pm
• Auckland FC vs Spurs – Sunday 26 July – 4am (UK)
• Sydney FC vs Spurs – Wednesday 29 July – 10.45am (UK)
• Chelsea vs Spurs – Saturday 1 August – 10.45am (UK)
• Spurs vs Getafe CF – Saturday 8 August – 3pm (UK)
• Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Saturday 15 August – 3pm (UK)
• Spurs vs TSG Hoffenheim – Sunday 16 August – 12noon

These matches are subject to availability in different regions. The club’s recent acquisitions of Fernandes and Tonali, following a period where the team was involved in a Premier League relegation battle, signal an upward trajectory under manager De Zerbi.

Tottenham’s pre-season tour continues with a flight to New Zealand on Thursday.

Source: bbc.com