Emmanuel Oluwasegun Opeyemi Fernandez is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Scottish Premiership club Rangers and the Super Eagles of Nigeria.
The 25-year-old is a physically dominant right-footed defender who has taken an unusual path from non-league football in England to the Scottish Premiership and senior international football. He joined Rangers in July 2025 and became a regular, earning his first Super Eagles caps in 2026.
In this article, Footynaija.com brings you everything you need to know about the London-born defender.
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Biography
Born in London on 17 July 2001 to Nigerian parents, Fernandez is the youngest of eight children. He grew up in a large Nigerian household and has spoken about the influence of his brothers on his football development.
He started in Brentford’s youth system before moving to Gillingham. After limited opportunities he spent time on loan at Sheppey United and Margate, then played non-league football with Ramsgate after being released. He signed for Peterborough United in July 2021.
Early minutes were scarce, including a brief loan at Spalding United, but a spell at Barnet in 2023 helped him regain form. He returned to Peterborough, made regular appearances in League One, and helped the club win the EFL Trophy.
In July 2025, Rangers signed him from Peterborough for a reported fee of around £3–3.5 million on a four-year deal running until June 2029 (with an option for a further year). He scored on his first league start in a 2-1 win over Livingston in November 2025 and went on to become a key figure in the defence.
Across the 2025/26 season he featured regularly, scored goals from set-pieces, and was named Rangers Player of the Season. He also earned a place in the PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the Year.
Eligible for both England and Nigeria, Fernandez chose the Super Eagles. He accepted a call-up under Eric Chelle in March 2026 and made his debut as a second-half substitute in a 2-1 win over Iran on 27 March. Four days later he started against Jordan and scored his first international goal in a 2-2 draw.
Career overview
Gillingham U18: 2 appearances, 1 goal
Peterborough United (2021–2025): 61 appearances, 7 goals
Rangers (July 2025–present): 51 appearances, 6 goals, 1 assist
Nigeria: 4 appearances, 1 goal
Salary and Net Worth
Fernandez is on a four-year deal with Rangers that runs from July 2025 to June 2029. His base weekly wage is £15,000 gross, equating to £780,000 per year. That places him among the higher earners at the club for a centre-back of his age and experience.
His net worth is not known. His market value has risen and is currently assessed around €16 million on Transfermarkt.
Parents and Family
Fernandez has spoken often about the influence of his brothers. One older brother, known as Joseph has been particularly vocal in pushing him to stay sharp, including gym sessions during the off-season.
His eldest brother, who was more than 15 years older, studied engineering, became a father of three (Joshua, Elijah and Zion), and passed away at the age of 37. Fernandez wears the number 37 at Rangers as a permanent tribute to him and has described it as a way of showing love and keeping his memory close.
He has also spoken about how the loss affected his mother and how important it remains to stay present with family. The large household and the constant push from his siblings have been a recurring theme in how he explains his drive.
Wife/Relationship Status
Public details about any relationship are limited.
Transfer News
Strong performances at Rangers and his Super Eagles breakthrough have attracted interest from bigger clubs, with reports linking him to Premier League sides including Chelsea and Arsenal.
Rangers are understood to value him highly (around £35–40 million). He remains under contract until 2029 and continues to feature regularly at Ibrox.
FC Ratings
Fernandez carries an overall rating of 71 in EA SPORTS FC 26, with a potential of 77. He is right-footed, 198 cm and 84 kg.
Key attributes include:
Pace: Acceleration 58, Sprint Speed 62
Shooting: Finishing 33, Heading Accuracy 74, Shot Power 47
Passing: Short Pass 65, Long Pass 60
Dribbling: 56, Ball Control 60
Defending: Defensive Awareness 67, Standing Tackle 68, Sliding Tackle 65
Physical: Strength 86, Jumping 83, Aggression 83, Stamina 64
