Thiago Fernández

For people of a similar name, see Tiago Fernandes and Thiago Fernandes.
Thiago Fernández
Personal information
Full name Thiago Cruz Fernández
Date of birth (2004-04-03) 3 April 2004
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Oviedo (on loan from Villarreal)
Number 15
Youth career
2014–2023 Vélez Sarsfield
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023–2025 Vélez Sarsfield 28 (5)
2026– Villarreal 0 (0)
2026 → Oviedo (loan) 1 (0)
International career
2024 Argentina U23 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 20:20, 31 January 2026 (UTC)

Thiago Cruz Fernández (born 3 April 2004) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a midfielder for Spanish club Oviedo on loan from Villarreal. He began his career with Vélez Sarsfield, making his debut in 2023 and helping the club win the Argentine Primera División in 2024.

Club career

Vélez Sarsfield

Fernández began playing football aged four and began training for Vélez Sarsfield when he was 10.[1] He signed his first contract in October 2021, and in April 2023, after being called up to the first team, his deal was extended to December 2025.[2]

On 21 April 2023, Fernández made his debut in the Argentine Primera División by starting in a 2–1 loss away to Colón.[1] He scored his first professional goal on 5 June 2024, a direct free kick in a 2–1 win at Arsenal de Sarandí in the Copa Argentina.[3] His first league goal followed on 21 July in a 3–0 home win over Talleres de Córdoba, with another four days later in a 2–0 victory at Platense.[4]

With three games remaining of the season, on 1 December 2024 against Sarmiento, Fernández suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee, requiring surgery and being sidelined for several months.[5] The team won their 11th league title, beating Talleres to the trophy on the final day; Fernández was recognised as the "great jewel" of the team by TyC Sports.[6]

In August 2025, Vélez Sarsfield announced that Fernández had been removed from the professional squad, alleging that he had decided against renewing his contract that was set to expire at the end of the year.[7] At the same time, he had a contractual agreement to join Villarreal CF in the Spanish La Liga once his contract had expired.[7] He ended his spell at Vélez Sarsfield with 48 games in all competitions, six goals and nine assists,[7] and published a critical message of the club's administration once he was a free agent.[8]

Villarreal

On 2 January 2026, following the expiration of his contract with Vélez Sarsfield, Fernández joined Villarreal on a contract until the end of the 2030–31 season.[9] Twenty days later, he was loaned to fellow league team Real Oviedo for the remainder of the season.[10] On his debut as a substitute on 31 January, he assisted Ilyas Chaira for the only goal against Girona.[11]

International career

Fernández was called up to the Argentina under-23 team for two friendly matches against Paraguay ahead of the 2024 Olympic event in France.[12] He played the two games as a starter and substitute respectively, but was not chosen for the final tournament.[13][14][15]

Personal life

Fernández's father Daniel Osvaldo Fernández was also a footballer in the top division, for Ferro Carril Oeste.[2]

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b "Thiago Fernández: del baby a la fábrica de Vélez" [Thiago Fernández: from baby football to Vélez's factory]. El Equipo Deportea (in Spanish). 29 September 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Thiago Fernández extendió su contrato con Vélez" [Thiago Fernández extended his contract with Vélez]. Monte Maíz Mira (in Spanish). 15 April 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Vélez, a octavos de la Copa Argentina tras vencer a Arsenal" [Vélez, to the last 16 of the Copa Argentina after beating Arsenal] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 5 June 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  4. ^ Leblebidjian, Christian (25 July 2024). "Las gambetas de Thiago Fernández, la ilusión de Vélez para ser protagonista: una ecuación que equilibra la experiencia del ataque" [Thiago Fernández's movements, Vélez's excitement to be protagonist: an equation that balances the experience of the attack]. La Nación (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Sufre Vélez Sarsfield: se confirmó la lesión grave de Thiago Fernández, hombre clave en el esque de Quinteros" [Vélez Sarsfield suffer: serious injury confirmed for Thiago Fernández, key man in Quinteros's team]. Los Andes (in Spanish). 3 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Juveniles talentosos, refuerzos potenciados y un técnico que dio en la tecla: las claves del Vélez campeón" [Talented youngsters, additions with potencial and a manager who hit the nail on the head: the keys to the champion Vélez team] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 15 December 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
  7. ^ a b c "Se negó a renovar tras recuperarse de una rotura de ligamentos, se iría a Europa y Vélez lo separó del plantel: el duro comunicado del club" [He opted against renewing after recovering from a ligament break, he would go to Europe and Vélez separated him from the squad: the club's tough communication] (in Spanish). Infobae. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  8. ^ "El fuerte posteo de una joya de Vélez que se fue libre en medio de un escándalo con la dirigencia: "No están a la altura"" [A Vélez jewel's strong post as he becomes a free agent amidst a scandal with the leadership: "They're out of their league"] (in Spanish). Infobae. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  9. ^ Mata, Javier (2 January 2026). "El Villarreal hace oficial la llegada de Thiago Fernández" [Villarreal confirm the arrival of Thiago Fernánez]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  10. ^ "Acuerdo entre Villarreal y Oviedo para la cesión de Thiago Fernández" [Agreement between Villarreal and Oviedo for the loan of Thiago Fernández]. Diario AS (in Spanish). 22 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  11. ^ "El gran debut de Thiago Fernández en Real Oviedo tras su tormentosa salida de Vélez". Olé (in Spanish). 31 January 2026. Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  12. ^ "Mascherano dio la lista de la Selección Argentina Sub 23 para los amistosos y Boca es el club con más convocados" [Mascherano reveals the Argentina Under-23 National Team list for the friendlies and Boca is the club with the most players chosen] (in Spanish). TyC Sports. 2 June 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  13. ^ "Con un golazo de Zenón y el doblete de Beltrán, Argentina goleó 4-0 a Paraguay en uno de los últimos amistosos antes de los Juegos Olímpicos" [With a wondergoal from Zenón and Beltrán's brace, Argentina thrashed Paraguay 4-0 in one of the last friendlies before the Olympic Games] (in Spanish). Infobae. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  14. ^ "La Selección Argentina Sub 23 le ganó otro amistoso a Paraguay" [Argentina Under-23 National Team won another friendly against Paraguay]. Página 12 (in Spanish). 11 June 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Así quedó la lista de convocados de la selección argentina Sub 23 para los Juegos Olímpicos París 2024" [How the list of selected players for the Argentina Under-23 National Team for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games ended up]. La Nación (in Spanish). 24 July 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
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