Paolo Fernandes at Alanyaspor: Scout Report & Analysis
Corendon Alanyaspor have added experience to their wide areas by taking Spanish winger Paolo Fernandes on a season-long loan from AEK Athens. The 28-year-old, who spent last season out on loan in Saudi Arabia, now gets a fresh chance on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Here is GegenSports’ breakdown of the move, the player’s scouting profile and what he can bring tactically.
The Story So Far: OFFICIAL
Corendon Alanyaspor, rebuilding their squad under head coach João Pereira, had been looking to reinforce the flanks. According to the club’s announcement and photos from the signing ceremony at the Cengiz Aydoğan Facilities, attended by club president Hasan Çavuşoğlu, AEK Athens winger Paolo Fernandes has joined on loan until the end of the season.
The news was corroborated across multiple mainstream Turkish outlets — Fotomaç, ASpor and Mynet among them — all describing the move as completed, so the status here is clearly OFFICIAL. No fee has been disclosed for the loan, and it is not yet public whether the deal includes a purchase option.
Scouting Profile: Who Is Paolo Fernandes?
Position, Age and Physical Profile
Born on 19 August 1998 in Zaragoza, Spain, to a Cape Verdean father, Paolo Fernandes Cantin is 28 years old and stands 1.67m. A left-footed player, he operates primarily as a left winger, with the ability to drop into an attacking-midfield role when needed.
Career Path and Numbers
- Real Zaragoza academy, before joining Manchester City’s youth setup in 2013 at age 15.
- Manchester City (2017-2020): 11 goals in 22 Premier League 2 appearances in 2016-17, followed by loans at NAC Breda (2017-19) and Perugia (2019-20).
- Castellón (2020-2021): a spell back in Spain’s second tier.
- Volos NFC (2021-2022): performances in the Greek Super League that caught AEK Athens’ attention.
- AEK Athens (2022-present): signed on 15 September 2022 on a deal running to 30 June 2027.
- Al-Khaleej (loan, 2025-2026): 31 official appearances and 6 goals in the Saudi Pro League last season.
In GegenSports scouting terms, Fernandes fits the “inverted winger” profile: a left-footer who cuts inside to combine centrally rather than simply chasing the byline. Where his early career leaned more toward pure finishing, his more mature output reads as a wide player who links play as much as he finishes it.
Fit With the Squad’s Needs
One of Alanyaspor’s recurring issues in recent seasons has been a lack of versatile wide options capable of both defensive work-rate and end product. With this window’s business leaning heavily toward midfield rotation (the arrivals of Baran Ali Gezek and Şahin Dik being part of that trend), Fernandes brings a different profile: a winger who has played across four different countries and leagues, which should help him adapt to the physical and tactical demands of the Süper Lig.
Expected Tactical Contribution
Fernandes’ habit of starting wide and cutting inside can combine well with an overlapping full-back, creating a numbers-up situation as the winger drifts infield and the full-back occupies the vacated flank. His six goals on loan at Al-Khaleej last season suggest he is not purely a creator — he can finish moves himself.
The open question is how quickly a 28-year-old with a well-travelled career adjusts to the Süper Lig’s relentless fixture list. As with other winger arrivals we’ve profiled recently (see our Koki Saito scout report), this type of signing tends to show its real value from mid-season onward rather than in the opening weeks.
The Economics
This is a loan with no transfer fee involved (OFFICIAL). Because the club is not subject to Turkish public-disclosure (KAP) requirements, there is no official financial filing; the loan fee and any purchase-option figure have not been reported, so this detail should be marked UNDISCLOSED. Low-cost loans of this kind fit the broader pattern of Anatolian clubs favouring low-risk, higher-upside recruitment.
Comparable Recent Transfers
This fits a pattern increasingly common among Anatolian clubs: bringing in players who have fallen out of favour or into rotation duty at a bigger club, but who still carry top-flight European experience, at minimal cost. It echoes Trabzonspor’s recent free-transfer approach to adding experience (see our Fabinho at Trabzonspor scout report), though Fernandes is younger and arguably still has room to develop further — making this more of a “second chance” move than a pure “experience insurance” signing.
FAQ
What position does Paolo Fernandes play?
Primarily left winger, with the ability to play as an attacking midfielder.
Is the move to Alanyaspor official?
Yes — confirmed by the club’s signing ceremony and corroborated by multiple mainstream Turkish outlets. Status: OFFICIAL.
Is it a loan or a permanent transfer?
A loan with no transfer fee, running until the end of the season.
Which clubs has he played for previously?
After Manchester City’s academy, he had loan spells at NAC Breda and Perugia, then played for Castellón, Volos NFC, and AEK Athens since 2022, with a loan at Al-Khaleej last season.
How long does his AEK Athens contract run?
Until 30 June 2027 — the loan at Alanyaspor does not affect that underlying deal.
