José Fonte  José Miguel da Rocha Fonte ComM (; born 22 December 1983) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre back for French club Lille OSC and the Portugal national team. He started his professional career with Sporting CP B, moving to England with Crystal Palace in 2007. In 2010 he signed with Southampton where he made 288 appearances in all competitions, until he joined West Ham United in January 2017; he then represented Dalian Yifang in China and Lille in France. A Portuguese international since age 30, Fonte was part of the squad at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, winning the former tournament. Born in Penafiel, Fonte finished his football education (after already having played there from ages 10–13) at Sporting CP, but only appeared with Sporting CP B as a senior, in the third division. In 2004 he signed with S.C. Salgueiros, but the club was in severe financial difficulties and was liquidated shortly thereafter; as a result he terminated his contract and transferred to F.C. Felgueiras, in the Segunda Liga. In the 2005 off-season, Fonte made his Primeira Liga debut with Vitória de Setúbal, where his performances attracted the eye of S.L. Benfica, who signed him in January 2006, immediately loaning him out to fellow league side F.C. Paços de Ferreira; he finished the season with 26 league appearances and one goal – during a 2–2 away draw against F.C. Penafiel where he also scored two in his own net– as both Paços and Setúbal managed to maintain their status. Fonte spent the 2006–07 season on loan to C.F. Estrela da Amadora, still in the top division, only missing five league games as the Lisbon-based club finished in ninth position. In 2007, Fonte moved on loan to Crystal Palace in England, being introduced in the side's starting XI after a run of injuries. The move was made permanent at the end of the campaign, as Palace finished fifth and qualified to the promotion play-offs. Fonte continued to feature regularly with the Londoners in the Football League Championship, even appearing as a makeshift striker when required. Fonte signed for Southampton on 9 January 2010 for a fee believed to be around the region of £1.2 million, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.