Paolo Fernandes Cantin (born 19 August 1998) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for Greek Super League club Volos, on loan from AEK Athens. Mainly a left winger, he also plays as an attacking midfielder.[2]
![]() Fernandes with Manchester City in 2017 | |||
Personal information | |||
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Full name | Paolo Fernandes Cantin[1] | ||
Date of birth | (1998-08-19) 19 August 1998 (age 24) | ||
Place of birth | Zaragoza, Spain | ||
Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
Position(s) | Attacking midfielder / Winger | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | AEK Athens | ||
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 | 0 | (0) |
2022 | → Volos (loan) | 9 | (2) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 November 2022 |
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.
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.
On 17 July 2019, Fernandes joined Italian Serie B side Perugia on loan for the 2019–20 season.[11] He appeared in 16 league matches overall, totalling ten starts.
Fernandes joined Segunda División newcomers Castellón on 3 September 2020, signing a three-year contract.[12]
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]
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]
Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
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Division | Apps | Goals | 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 | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 | ||||||
Total | 31 | 6 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 34 | 7 | |||||
Volos (loan) | 2022–23 | Superleague Greece | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | |||
Career total | 95 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 105 | 13 |
Volos F.C. – current squad | |
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