Young Peterborough United defender signs new three-year contract

Emmanuel Fernandez has signed a new three-year deal at Posh.

The 22-year-old centre back joined Posh from non-league Ramsgate in July 2021.

He has started nine games in all competitions, and made 18 appearances in total last season, 10 from the substitutes’ bench, scoring twice including a last-gasp goal against Salford City in an FA Cup tie.

On a number of occasions, he was sent on in an attacking position with Posh chasing the game, due to his aerial prowess.

Fernandez said: “I want to thank the manager for the faith that he has shown in me and it is down to me now to show what I can do.

"I have been here a little while now, I feel that this coming season I need to show consistency in my game. I managed to feature in a few games last season, but I want more.

"I am looking forward to coming back in pre-season and trying to hit the ground running. I am excited about the challenge.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson has spoken highly of Fernandez in recent weeks particularly in the wake of Josh Knight’s departure to join German side Hannover 96.

Following the contract signing, he said: “Emmanuel will be with us in the first team squad and will be competing for a spot in the starting line-up alongside other central defenders.

"He has been with us a while now, but we feel there is potential that we can get out of him and we believe we can do that as a coaching staff.

"It is a big season for the boy. I am delighted that the contract has been sorted because he was high up on the list of players that we wanted to secure at the end of last season.

"He finished last season strongly and it was always going to be tough to displace Ronnie Edwards and Josh Knight because they were playing so well, but he has a lot of good attributes and it is good that we have managed to secure his services on a long-term deal."