Joelson Fernandes

Joelson Fernandes, or more simply Joelson, is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for FC Basel on loan from Sporting CP.[1][2] Born in Guinea Bissau, Joelson represents Portugal internationally.

Joelson Fernandes
Personal information
Full name Joelson Augusto Mendes Mango Fernandes
Date of birth (2003-02-28) 28 February 2003
Place of birth Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Basel
(on loan from Sporting CP)
Number 96
Youth career
0000–2020 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Sporting CP 4 (0)
2020– Sporting CP B 10 (1)
2021– → Basel (loan) 4 (0)
National team
2018 Portugal U15 5 (2)
2018–2019 Portugal U16 8 (1)
2019 Portugal U17 3 (1)
2020– Portugal U21 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 26 August 2021

Club career

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]

International career

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.[10] He made his debut for Portugal U21 in September 2020.[11]

Personal life

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]

References
  1. Maston, Tom (19 May 2020). "Joelson Fernandes: Teen wing wizard following in Ronaldo's footsteps at Sporting". Goal. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  2. Joelson Fernandes at Soccerway. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  3. Espadinha, Victor (16 June 2020). "Jovane já dá para os "alfinetes"". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  4. Dupont, Régis (11 October 2019). "Les prodiges du football européen : Joelson Fernandes, dans la plus pure tradition des Lions". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  5. "Joelson desperta atenção do Dortmund". A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  6. Mondal, Subhankar (23 May 2020). "Arsenal reportedly have advantage in race for £40m teenager likened to Cristiano Ronaldo". HITC. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  7. Granada, Ricardo (3 June 2020). "Joelson pronto a ir ao choque". Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  8. "Mathieu regressa a um onze com uma estreia a titular". A Bola (in Portuguese). 18 June 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  9. "Der FCB verpflichtet Joelson Fernandes | FC Basel - die offizielle Website".
  10. "Portugal-Albania | Under-17". UEFA. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
  11. "Joelson Fernandes" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
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