Joelson Fernandes, or more simply Joelson, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Sporting CP B.[1][2] Born in Guinea-Bissau, Joelson represents Portugal internationally.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Joelson Augusto Mendes Mango Fernandes | ||
Date of birth | (2003-02-28) 28 February 2003 (age 19) | ||
Place of birth | Bissau, Guinea-Bissau | ||
Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Club information | |||
Current team | Sporting CP B | ||
Youth career | |||
0000–2020 | Sporting CP | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2020 | Sporting CP | 4 | (0) |
2020– | Sporting CP B | 10 | (1) |
2021–2022 | → Basel (loan) | 18 | (0) |
National team‡ | |||
2018 | Portugal U15 | 5 | (2) |
2018–2019 | Portugal U16 | 8 | (1) |
2019 | Portugal U17 | 3 | (1) |
2020– | Portugal U21 | 5 | (0) |
2021 | Portugal U18 | 2 | (0) |
2021–2022 | Portugal U19 | 6 | (1) |
2022– | Portugal U20 | 2 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 May 2022 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 September 2022 |
Joelson's play has led to him being compared to the ex-Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo.[1][3][4] He gathered the attention of several big European clubs such as RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund[5] and Arsenal.[6]
Having started training with the first squad after the COVID-19 pandemic,[7] he first figured on the bench of a Liga NOS game on 18 June 2020 against C.D. Tondela.[8]
On 31 August 2021, Joelson completed a move to Basel on a two-year-loan.[9] On 2 September 2022, the loan was terminated early by mutual consent.[10]
Through his double nationality, Joelson is eligible to play for both Portugal and Guinea-Bissau.[4]
He became an under-17 Portugal youth international in November 2019, aged only 16, in a Euro qualifier match against Albania.[11] He made his debut for Portugal U21 in September 2020.[12]
Born in Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau, Joelson moved to Portugal in 2014.[4]
Joelson Fernandes' family has very close ties to both football and Sporting Portugal: his father, Mango, was part of the Sporting youth setups, before becoming a footballing agent, and Joelson's younger brother is also part of the Lions academy.[4]