Córdoba CF signs Portuguese goalkeeper Guilherme Fernandes as 14th addition for 2026-27 season

Córdoba CF has secured Guilherme Fernandes to reinforce one of the most decisive positions in its squad. The Portuguese goalkeeper, born in Lisbon on March 28, 2001, has signed for two seasons after concluding his spell at Real Betis and completing the last season on loan at Real Valladolid. Standing at 1.91 meters, he arrives with a full season of experience in the Liga Hypermotion.

Guilherme fits the profile of goalkeeper suited to Iván Ania's system. His height gives him presence between the posts and the ability to cover the goal, but he is not solely a physically imposing goalkeeper. He also stands out for his reflexes and his ball handling with his feet—an important quality for a Córdoba team that aims to build play from the back and attract rival pressure through its center-backs and goalkeeper.

His signing should not be understood only as a bet for the future. At 25 years old, he arrives after having accumulated minutes in different categories of Portuguese and Spanish football and having been a starter for a good part of last season in the Second Division.

A Goalkeeper Adapted to Ania's Style of Play

Guilherme's main characteristic is the combination of size and agility. His 1.91 meters allow him to offer good goal coverage and confidently face shots from medium distance, loose balls, and aerial actions.

Despite his height, he has reaction ability in short distances. He is a goalkeeper with good reflexes, capable of quickly going to ground and responding in one-on-one situations. His physique does not prevent him from being explosive when he needs to correct a close-range action.

Good with His Feet

Another of his strengths is his play with his feet. Guilherme feels comfortable participating in circulation, offering a passing line to the center-backs and looking for both short passes and longer displacements. This virtue explains his fit in a team like Córdoba, where the goalkeeper is not limited to stopping shots but acts as the first participant in the offensive build-up.

However, his youth still implies room for improvement. He will need to gain regularity in decision-making, especially in coming out and in those plays where he must choose between staying on his line or attacking the ball. Communication with a deeply renewed defense will also be important during his first months.

Training in Major Portuguese Academies

Guilherme completed a good part of his training in prestigious structures. He went through the youth categories of Sporting Portugal, Os Belenenses, and Benfica—three entities with a long tradition in developing young footballers. He was also linked in his early years to Nacional and Marítimo.

After finishing his formative stage, he took his first senior steps at Amora, within the Portuguese Liga 3. He later joined Estrela da Amadora, where he mainly played with the under-23 team before starting his adventure in Spain.

Real Betis signed him in the summer of 2023 to reinforce its reserve team. Guilherme became an important piece of Betis Deportivo, which managed to get promoted to Primera Federación and then maintained a notable level in the third category of Spanish football. His progression led the green-and-white club to acquire his rights and renew him until 2027 before seeking a loan for him in the Second Division.

Three Consecutive Months as Valladolid's Best Player of the Month

The definitive leap to professional football came with Real Valladolid. Guilherme went on loan to the Pucela team and played 31 league matches, accumulating 2,790 minutes. The season allowed him to experience the demands of the Liga Hypermotion and demonstrate that he could sustain a starting role for a full campaign.

His performance was recognized by the Valladolid fans. He was chosen as the team's best player for three consecutive months—specifically in September, October, and November—a circumstance especially significant for a goalkeeper and reflecting his prominence in certain stretches of the season.

Valladolid had a purchase option but did not end up exercising it. Guilherme then returned to Betis, with whom he began the preseason and even played minutes in the first friendly of the summer, before his transfer to Córdoba CF was finalized.

The State of the Squad

Córdoba CF currently officially has 29 players in the squad, counting those who still have a valid contract from last season (13), the signings (14), and those who are training after returning from loans (2). The new additions to the squad are:

• Goalkeeper Guilherme Fernandes (ex-Valladolid)
• Left-back Dani Tasende (ex-Zaragoza)
• Right-backs Egoitz Muñoz (ex-Alavés) and Jaco