For the Brazilian footballer, see Fernando Fonseca (footballer, born 1993).
Fernando Fonseca
FullnameFernando Manuel Ferreira Fonseca[1]
Birth date14 March 1997 (age 29)[1]
Birth placePorto, Portugal[1]
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
PositionRight-back
CurrentclubLeixões
Clubnumber2
Youthyears 12007–2009
Youthclubs 1Boavista
Youthyears 22009–2016
Youthclubs 2Porto
Youthyears 32012–2013
Youthclubs 3→ Padroense (loan)
Years 12016–2019
Clubs 1Porto B
Caps 132
Goals 10
Years 22017
Clubs 2Porto
Caps 21
Goals 20
Years 32017–2018
Clubs 3→ Estoril (loan)
Caps 319
Goals 30
Years 42019–2020
Clubs 4Gil Vicente
Caps 420
Goals 40
Years 52020–2023
Clubs 5Paços Ferreira
Caps 562
Goals 50
Years 62023–2025
Clubs 6AVS
Caps 650
Goals 60
Years 72026–
Clubs 7Leixões
Caps 73
Goals 70
Nationalyears 12014–2015
Nationalteam 1Portugal U18
Nationalcaps 17
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 22015
Nationalteam 2Portugal U19
Nationalcaps 26
Nationalgoals 20
Nationalyears 32016–2018
Nationalteam 3Portugal U21
Nationalcaps 312
Nationalgoals 30
Nationalyears 42016
Nationalteam 4Portugal U23
Nationalcaps 44
Nationalgoals 40
Club-update13:21, 13 April 2026 (UTC)

Fernando Manuel Ferreira Fonseca (born 14 March 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Liga Portugal 2 club Leixões.

Club career

Porto

Born in Porto, Fonseca joined FC Porto's youth system in 2009, from neighbours Boavista FC. While at the service of the former's under-19 squad he won two consecutive national championships, under the guidance of former club player António Folha; his contribution was praised by the media, who described an enormous work capacity on the right flank and aggressiveness in ball disputes.[2]

In the beginning of the 2016–17 season, Fonseca was promoted to the reserves by Luís Castro. His senior debut arrived on 24 August 2016, in a 2–1 home win against S.C. Olhanense in the Segunda Liga where he played the full 90 minutes.[3] The following month he signed a contract extension until 2020, although no values of the termination clause were disclosed.[4]

Fonseca played his first match in the Primeira Liga on 6 May 2017, profiting from the absence of the suspended Maxi Pereira and featuring the entire 1–1 away draw with C.S. Marítimo.[5][6] For the following campaign, he was loaned to fellow top-division team G.D. Estoril Praia.[7]

Gil Vicente

On 30 August 2019, Fonseca ended his decade-long link to Porto by signing for Gil Vicente F.C. as a replacement for Kellyton.[8] He made his debut two weeks later, in a 2–0 loss at S.L. Benfica.[9]

On 8 March 2020, Fonseca suffered a serious left ankle injury against C.D. Santa Clara, and had to wait for surgery due to the COVID-19 pandemic that had also postponed the top-flight season.[10]

Paços Ferreira

Fonseca joined F.C. Paços de Ferreira on a three-year contract in September 2020.[11] On 15 February 2023, he left by mutual consent.[12]

AVS

On 8 July 2023, Fonseca agreed to a two-year deal with recently founded second-tier AVS Futebol SAD.[13] When it expired, with the club by then in the main division, he left after failing to agree new terms.[14]

Leixões

On 31 January 2026, the free agent Fonseca joined Leixões S.C. in the second tier.[15]

International career

Aged 19, Fonseca was selected by manager Rui Jorge for his 2016 Summer Olympics squad due to Fábio Sturgeon's injury.[16] He was first-choice during the competition in Brazil, in an eventual quarter-final exit.[17][18][19]

Fonseca earned his first cap for the under-21 side on 2 September 2016, in a 0–0 home draw against Israel in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.[20]

References

  1. ^ "Fernando Fonseca" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  2. ^ Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (4 June 2016). "FC Porto: conheça melhor os bicampeões de juniores" [FC Porto: get to know the two-time junior champions] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. ^ "FC Porto B-Olhanense: 2–1: Dragões quase sempre superiores" [FC Porto B-Olhanense: 2–1: Dragons with upper hand most of the time] (in Portuguese). Record. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ "Fernando Fonseca renova contrato até 2020" [Fernando Fonseca renews contract until 2020] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  5. ^ "Fernando Fonseca foi a novidade no Olival" [Fernando Fonseca was the novelty at the Olival] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Fernando Fonseca e a estreia pelo FC Porto: "Felicidade máxima e tristeza"" [Fernando Fonseca and debut for FC Porto: "Happy as can be and sad"] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 7 May 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Fernando Fonseca emprestado ao Estoril" [Fernando Fonseca loaned to Estoril] (in Portuguese). Diário de Notícias. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  8. ^ Dantas, Nuno (30 August 2019). "FC Porto: Fernando Fonseca reforça Gil Vicente" [FC Porto: Fernando Fonseca bolsters Gil Vicente] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Fernando Fonseca e Romário Baldé estreiam-se nos convocados do Gil Vicente" [Fernando Fonseca and Romário Baldé debut in Gil Vicente's squad] (in Portuguese). Antena Minho. 14 September 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  10. ^ Mendes, António (17 March 2020). "Fernando Fonseca espera pela operação" [Fernando Fonseca waits for operation] (in Portuguese). Record. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Paços de Ferreira oficializa contratação de Fernando Fonseca" [Paços de Ferreira make signing of Fernando Fonseca official] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  12. ^ Calção, Armindo (15 February 2023). "Fernando Fonseca rescinde com o Paços de Ferreira por mútuo acordo" [Fernando Fonseca terminates cuts ties with Paços de Ferreira by mutual agreement] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 13 July 2023.[dead link]
  13. ^ Devesas, Lino (8 July 2023). "Fernando Fonseca, ex-Paços, apresentado como reforço do Aves SAD" [Fernando Fonseca, formerly of Paços, presented as Aves SAD addition] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  14. ^ Santos, José (18 June 2025). "Fernando Fonseca e Gustavo Assunção de saída do AVS SAD" [Fernando Fonseca and Gustavo Assunção leaving AVS SAD] (in Portuguese). Record. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Lateral direito Fernando Fonseca assina pelo Leixões" [Right-back Fernando Fonseca signs for Leixões] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 31 January 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Rui Jorge leva júnior do FC Porto aos Jogos Olímpicos" [Rui Jorge takes FC Porto junior to the Olympic Games] (in Portuguese). O Jogo. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Vitória na estreia" [Win in debut] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 4 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Portugal vence e garante quartos de final" [Portugal win and confirm quarter-finals] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Portugal assegura primeiro lugar" [Portugal confirm first place] (in Portuguese). Portuguese Football Federation. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  20. ^ Pires, Sérgio (2 September 2016). "Sub-21: Portugal-Israel, 0–0 (crónica)" [Under-21: Portugal-Israel, 0–0 (match report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 7 May 2017.