Ezequiel Fernandez has moved from Bayer Leverkusen’s transfer list to Argentina’s senior squad in less than six months. The 24-year-old midfielder made his Albiceleste debut in a 4-0 win over Bolivia, capping a sharp revival under new Leverkusen coach Carles Martinez.
From selection dispute to first-team role
- Fernandez joined Bayer from Saudi club Al-Qadisiya for €30 million in summer 2025. He had shown flashes in the first half of his debut campaign but spent much of the second half on the bench.
- On 11 April, during Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at Dortmund, Fernandez declined to enter in stoppage time. Then coach Kasper Hjulmand had intended the change to run down the clock. Fernandez later indicated that back trouble had prevented him from playing.
- The incident damaged his standing inside the club. After one unconvincing season, he became a leading candidate to leave, particularly after Bayer signed 17-year-old Hertha prospect Kennet Eichhorn and looked to reduce a group of five options for the double pivot.
- Fernandez instead began pre-season strongly under Martinez and won a regular place in the Spaniard’s side.
- He struggled in the 3-2 opening defeat at Elversberg, receiving a 4.5 rating, but responded with a 1.5-rated display in the 4-0 league win over Union Berlin. He also delivered solid performances in the 2-2 draw at Augsburg and the 2-0 victory over Leipzig, both rated 3.0.
Argentina debut
Fernandez had previously been called into the Argentina group in autumn 2024 without getting on the pitch. A Paris 2024 Olympian, the left-footed holding midfielder finally made his senior bow against Bolivia.
He replaced Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister in the 74th minute, with Argentina already 3-0 ahead. The world champions of 1978, 1986 and 2022, and current World Cup runners-up, went on to win 4-0.
For Fernandez, the international appearance follows a rapid reset at club level. A player once expected to depart has become a first-choice midfielder at Bayer and now an Argentina international.
