A self-clinching fastener for attachment to a plastically deformable metal substrate, the self-clinching fastener comprising: a body portion with a central axis (X), the body portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction of the central axis (X), and an annular-shaped surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis (X); a punch portion being coaxial with the central axis (X) and extending from the body portion such that the annular-shaped surface encircles the punch portion , the punch portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis (X), the outer peripheral surface of the punch portion having a cylindrical profile that resides on an imaginary circumferential plane (C); and a plurality of spaced apart lugs encircling the punch portion and axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface , one of the lugs including a contact face configured to engage said metal substrate, the contact face declining, relative to an imaginary horizontal plane (P) on which the annular-shaped surface lies, in a radially outwards direction of the self-clinching fastener , wherein the outer peripheral surface of the punch portion includes a plurality of spaced apart cutouts encircling the punch portion , each of the plurality of spaced apart cutouts being recessed with respect to the imaginary circumferential plane (C) and including a cutout surface that is concave, and wherein the contact face has a first end portion and a second end portion , the first end portion being formed with the cutout surface of a corresponding cutout of the plurality of spaced apart cutouts , and the second end portion being positioned radially outwards therefrom, and wherein the contact face continuously declines from the first end portion to the second end portion . a body portion with a central axis (X), the body portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in a direction of the central axis (X), and an annular-shaped surface extending in a direction perpendicular to the central axis (X); a punch portion being coaxial with the central axis (X) and extending from the body portion such that the annular-shaped surface encircles the punch portion , the punch portion including an outer peripheral surface extending in the direction of the central axis (X), the outer peripheral surface of the punch portion having a cylindrical profile that resides on an imaginary circumferential plane (C); and a plurality of spaced apart lugs encircling the punch portion and axially projecting outwards from the annular-shaped surface , one of the lugs including a contact face configured to engage said metal substrate, the contact face declining, relative to an imaginary horizontal plane (P) on which the annular-shaped surface lies, in a radially outwards direction of the self-clinching fastener , wherein the outer peripheral surface of the punch portion includes a plurality of spaced apart cutouts encircling the punch portion , each of the plurality of spaced apart cutouts being recessed with respect to the imaginary circumferential plane (C) and including a cutout surface that is concave, and wherein the contact face has a first end portion and a second end portion , the first end portion being formed with the cutout surface of a corresponding cutout of the plurality of spaced apart cutouts , and the second end portion being positioned radially outwards therefrom, and wherein the contact face continuously declines from the first end portion to the second end portion . <EOS>