Brian Fernández (born 26 September 1994) is an Argentine professional
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who plays as a
forward for
Talleres de Remedios de Escalada
Club Atlético Talleres, usually called Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, is an Argentina, Argentine sports club sited in the Remedios de Escalada district of Lanús Partido, Greater Buenos Aires. The club is mostly known for its association footb ...
.
Club career
Defensa y Justicia
Fernández made his professional debut for
Defensa y Justicia
Club Social y Deportivo Defensa y Justicia, commonly known as Defensa y Justicia, is an Argentine football club from Florencio Varela, Buenos Aires, established in 1935. on 25 May 2012 in a 1–0 loss to
Ferro Carril Oeste
Club Ferro Carril Oeste, known simply as Ferro Carril Oeste or familiarly, Ferro, is an Argentine sports club from the neighbourhood of Caballito, Buenos Aires. Although many activities are hosted by the club, Ferro is mostly known for its assoc ...
. He participated in three matches but did not score a goal. In the following season Fernández participated in 13 matches, still without scoring.
In the
2013–14 season he secured a position as a starter and scored 11 goals including the goal that secured promotion for his club to the Primera División, against
San Martín de San Juan
Club Atlético San Martín, mostly known as San Martín de San Juan, is an Argentine football club from the city of San Juan. The team currently plays in the Argentine Liga Profesional de Futbol, the first division of the Argentine football league ...
on 15 May 2014. On 8 August 2014 he scored his first goal in the Argentine top division in a 3–1 loss to
Racing Club.
Racing Club
On 31 December 2014 Fernández was signed by Racing Club for a reported $1 million in exchange for 50% of his economic rights. His first goal for the club was in the
Copa Libertadores
The CONMEBOL Libertadores, also known as Copa Libertadores de América (), is an annual continental club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960. It is the highest level of competition in South American club football. The tournam ...
group stage against
Sporting Cristal
Club Sporting Cristal S.A., shortened to Sporting Cristal, is a Peruvian sports club located in the city of Lima, best known for its association football, soccer team. It was founded on 13 December 1955 in the Rímac District, Rímac district by e ...
on 10 March 2015. He scored three goals in the competition before his club was eliminated by
Guaraní Guarani, Guaraní or Guarany may refer to
Ethnography
* Guaraní people, an indigenous people from South America's interior (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia)
* Guarani language, or Paraguayan Guarani, an official language of Paraguay
* G ...
in the quarter-finals. Fernández scored both goals in a 2–0 victory for Racing in his debut in the
2014–15 Copa Argentina
The 2014–15 Copa Argentina was the sixth edition of the Copa Argentina, and the fourth since the relaunch of the tournament in 2011. The competition began on October 15, 2014. Defending champions Huracán were eliminated by Independiente Rivada ...
against
Independiente de Neuquén
Club Atlético Independiente (more often referred as Independiente de Neuquén) is an Argentine football club based in the city of Neuquén
Neuquén (; ) is the capital city of the Argentine province of Neuquén and of the Confluencia Depar ...
.
After the 12th round of the
2015 Argentine Primera División
The 2015 Argentine Primera División or Torneo de Primera División 2015 "Julio H. Grondona" was the 125th season of top-flight professional football in Argentina. The season began on February 13 and ended on December 6. Thirty teams competed in ...
Fernández tested positive for prohibited controlled substances and was subsequently prohibited from playing professional football until 9 January 2017.
Fernández played the entire 2016 season for Racing Club's reserve team in the reserve league.
After a slow return to Racing's professional squad in 2017, manager
Diego Cocca
Diego Martín Cocca (born 11 February 1972) is an Argentine professional football manager and former player who played as a right-back. He is the current manager of Talleres.
Playing career
Club
Cocca started his career with River Plate in 1 ...
had Fernández loaned out to Primera División side
Sarmiento Sarmiento may refer to:
Places Argentina
*Sarmiento Department, San Juan, a subdivision of the San Juan Province
* Sarmiento Department, Santiago del Estero, a subdivision of the Santiago del Estero Province
* Sarmiento Department, Chubut, a subdi ...
in May. For the club, he scored three goals in his first three matches. He played five of six remaining league matches for Sarmiento, who were relegated at the end of the season.
Fernández was recalled to Racing Club after his loan. He scored against
Independiente Medellín
Deportivo Independiente Medellín, also known as Independiente Medellín or DIM, is a Colombian professional football club (association football), football club based in Medellín that currently plays in the Categoría Primera A. They play their ...
in the second round of the
2017 Copa Sudamericana
The 2017 Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana was the 16th edition of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana (also referred to as the ''Copa Sudamericana'', or ), South America's secondary club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL.
Argentinian club Independiente ...
on 27 June 2017.
FC Metz
On 23 August 2017, Fernández joined
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 (; ), officially known as Ligue 1 McDonald's France, McDonald's for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in France and the highest level of the French football league system. Administered by the Ligue de ...
side
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz () is a Football in France, French association football club based in Metz, Lorraine. The club was formed in 1932 and plays in Ligue 1, the highest division in the French football league system, for the 2025–26 Ligue 1, ...
on a one-year loan deal. Metz secured an option to sign him permanently. He made seven substitute appearances for the senior squad without scoring before being moved the reserve squad in the Championnat National 3 (fifth division) for the remainder of the 2017 calendar year. In January 2018 his loan deal was terminated.
Unión La Calera
On 4 January 2018, Fernández was loaned from Racing Club to newly promoted
Chilean Primera División
The Chilean Primera División () is a professional association football league in Chile and the highest level of the Chilean football league system. Founded in 1933, it is organized by the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional (ANFP). The l ...
club
Unión La Calera
Unión La Calera is a Chilean football club based in La Calera, Chile. The club competes in the Primera División de Chile.
It was founded as Club de Deportes La Calera on 26 January 1954, after the merger of three teams from the city: ''Condor' ...
with an option to buy. The 23 year-old scored 11 goals in 12 league matches for Unión La Calera, helping to deliver one of the best seasons in the club's history. His final match for the club was on 29 May against
Colo-Colo
Colo-Colo (), officially Club Social y Deportivo Colo-Colo, is a Chilean professional football club based in Macul, Santiago. Founded in 1925 by David Arellano, it competes in the Chilean Primera División, from which the club has never been ...
, in which he scored in the 2–0 victory. Unión La Calera were 3rd place in the league at the time of Fernández's departure to Mexico.
Necaxa
On 7 June 2018,
Liga MX
Liga MX, also known as Liga BBVA MX for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Mexico and the highest level of the Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Liga Mayor (1943–1949) and also as Primera Divis ...
club
Necaxa
Impulsora del Deportivo Necaxa S.A. de C.V. (); often simply known as Club Necaxa, is a Mexican professional Association football, football club based in Aguascalientes (city), Aguascalientes. It competes in Liga MX, the top division of Mexican ...
confirmed the signing of Fernández on a three-year contract from Racing for a reported $3 million. Fernández scored in his Necaxa debut in a 2–1 victory against
Club América
Club de Fútbol América S.A. de C.V., commonly known as Club América, is a professional association football, football club based in Mexico City. Nicknamed ''Las Águilas'' (The Eagles), it competes in Liga MX, the top tier of Mexican football ...
in the first round of the 2018–19 Apertura season. He scored four goals in 15 Torneo Apertura appearances, and twelve goals in 15 Torneo Clausura appearances, as well as two goals in two
Copa MX
Copa MX, also known as Copa Corona MX for sponsorship reasons, was an association football competition in Mexico and the domestic cup tournament for clubs at the highest and second levels of Mexican football league system. Formerly known as Copa ...
appearances, both scored as a substitute in a 3–2 loss to
Atlético San Luis
Club Atlético de San Luis is a Mexican professional football club based in San Luis Potosí. It competes in the Liga MX, the top division of Mexican football.
Founded in 2013, replacing the defunct club of the city ( San Luis FC) after its re ...
. Necaxa qualified for the Clausura Liguilla playoffs, but Fernández did not participate because a transfer agreement for him had been reached.
Portland Timbers
On 6 May 2019, it was announced that Fernández had signed for
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional Association football, soccer league in North America and the highest level of the United States soccer league system. It comprises 30 teams, with 27 in the United States and 3 in Canada, and is sanc ...
side
Portland Timbers
The Portland Timbers are an American professional Association football, soccer club based in Portland, Oregon. The Timbers compete in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference (MLS), Western Conference. The Timbers have p ...
as a
Designated Player for an undisclosed fee reported to be between $10 and $12 million, a Portland Timbers record. Fernández netted one goal in his debut against the
Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo Football Club is an American professional soccer club based in Houston. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Western Conference. Established on December 15, 2005, the club was founded after their fo ...
on 16 May, and scored eight goals in his first six matches for the Timbers.
On 7 October 2019, it was announced that Fernández has voluntarily entered MLS' Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program. On 15 November 2019, Major League Soccer announced they had terminated his contract.
Colón
Following his dismissal by Portland, Fernández moved back to his native Argentina, joining
Argentine Primera División
The Primera División (; ), known officially as Liga Profesional de Fútbol, or Torneo Betano for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Argentina and the highest level of the Argentine football league system. Organ ...
side
Colón on 10 January 2020.
Shortly after signing with Colón, Fernández reportedly disappeared and failed to arrive for training for three days. His disappearance was reported to the police, who issued an order for whereabouts, and he was later found alive and well at home. Various reasons for his absence were given, including "a flu" and later of a "personal problem".
On 4 February, Fernández was again to miss training amid reports of a robbery where "...they pointed a gun at my
ishead". They also allegedly stole his
Rolex
Rolex () is a Swiss watch brand and manufacturer based in Geneva, Switzerland. Founded in 1905 as ''Wilsdorf and Davis'' by German businessman Hans Wilsdorf and his eventual brother-in-law Alfred Davis in London, the company registered ''Rolex ...
watch and threw a brick through his window. He was also reportedly threatened by his own father, due to his father supporting Colón's local rivals
Unión de Santa Fe
Club Atlético Unión (; mostly known as Unión de Santa Fe ) is a sports club from Santa Fe, Argentina, Santa Fe, the capital city of the Santa Fe Province, in Argentina. The club was founded on 15 April 1907.
Unión is mostly known for its asso ...
.
Loan spells
Fernández joined
Ferro Carril Oeste
Club Ferro Carril Oeste, known simply as Ferro Carril Oeste or familiarly, Ferro, is an Argentine sports club from the neighbourhood of Caballito, Buenos Aires. Although many activities are hosted by the club, Ferro is mostly known for its assoc ...
in late February 2021 on a loan deal for the rest of the year.
In February 2022, he was sent out on loan to
Deportivo Madryn until the end of 2022. However, the spell at Deportivo Madryn was cut short and he instead returned to
Ferro Carril Oeste
Club Ferro Carril Oeste, known simply as Ferro Carril Oeste or familiarly, Ferro, is an Argentine sports club from the neighbourhood of Caballito, Buenos Aires. Although many activities are hosted by the club, Ferro is mostly known for its assoc ...
on a loan deal until the end of the year. On September 8, 2022, Ferro announced that Fernandez had not shown up for training for two consecutive days and that he "would not be returning again."
Coquimbo Unido
Fernández returned to Chile after his stint with Unión La Calera for the
2025 season and joined
Coquimbo Unido
Coquimbo Unido is a Chilean football club based in the city of Coquimbo. The club was founded in 1958 and has played in the Chilean Primera División since being promoted in 2022. Their home games are played at the Estadio Municipal Francisco Sán ...
on 10 December 2024. On 23 December, he returned to Argentina and announced his resignation from the club after being away from the training sessions.
Talleres RdE
Fernández signed with
Talleres de Remedios de Escalada
Club Atlético Talleres, usually called Talleres de Remedios de Escalada, is an Argentina, Argentine sports club sited in the Remedios de Escalada district of Lanús Partido, Greater Buenos Aires. The club is mostly known for its association footb ...
on 6 May 2025.
Personal life
Fernández has four footballing brothers:
Leandro Fernández,
Nicolás Fernández,
Juan Cruz Villagra and Tomás Villagra; the latter two took their mother's surname.
Doping case
Fernández tested positive for cocaine at two in-competition controls in May 2015, and was subsequently handed a three-month ban from sports by AFA, with the ban ending 3 September 2015.
[Suspendido por doping: Brian Fernández estará tres meses sin jugar](_blank)
canchallena.lanacion.com.ar, 24 July 2015 The South American Football Confederation (
CONMEBOL
CONMEBOL ( ) or CSF (; ; ), is the continental governing body of football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations. The oldest continental confederation in the world, its headquarters are located in Luque, Parag ...
) did however seek a two-year ban for him, and he was still suspended in late September 2015. On 28 October it was announced that he had been banned for two years. The substance he had tested positive for was cocaine.
Argentino é suspenso por dois anos após doping por cocaína na Libertadores
esportes.estado.com.br, 28 October 2015
Due to all of those positive drug results, he was moved to Racing Club's reserve team in 2016.[Duro descargo de Brian Fernández, que insultó a un periodista tras ser acusado por un nuevo doping](_blank)
�� infobae.com, 19 January 2016
Career statistics
Club
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fernandez, Brian
Living people
1994 births
Men's association football forwards
Argentine men's footballers
Argentine expatriate men's footballers
Argentine Primera División players
Primera Nacional players
Ligue 1 players
Championnat National 3 players
Chilean Primera División players
Liga MX players
Major League Soccer players
Liga de Expansión MX players
Defensa y Justicia footballers
Racing Club de Avellaneda footballers
Club Atlético Sarmiento footballers
FC Metz players
Unión La Calera footballers
Club Necaxa footballers
Portland Timbers players
Club Atlético Colón footballers
Ferro Carril Oeste footballers
Deportivo Madryn players
Atlético Morelia players
Club Almirante Brown footballers
Coquimbo Unido footballers
Talleres de Remedios de Escalada footballers
Designated Players (MLS)
Doping cases in association football
Argentine sportspeople in doping cases
Fernández–Villagra family
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in France
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Chile
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in Mexico
Argentine expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Expatriate men's footballers in France
Expatriate men's footballers in Chile
Expatriate men's footballers in Mexico
Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Footballers from Santa Fe, Argentina
21st-century Argentine sportsmen