West Ham United and Brazilian giants Flamengo have reached a verbal agreement for the permanent transfer of midfielder Lucas Paqueta, in a deal valued at approximately £36 million. The move, which is expected to be formalised in writing within the next 24 hours, will see the 28-year-old Brazil international return to his homeland without a loan back to the London Stadium for the remainder of the season.
Transfer Details and Payment Structure
The two clubs are currently finalising the payment structure for the significant transfer fee, having moved past Flamengo's initial bid of £30.3 million, which was rejected by West Ham. Personal terms between Paqueta and Flamengo have already been agreed, smoothing the path for the attacker's departure from the Premier League side.
Paqueta's Recent Absence and Desire to Leave
Lucas Paqueta has not featured for West Ham since their 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in January. Following that match, he refused to play in the subsequent FA Cup clash against Queens Park Rangers and has been managing a back injury. The player has explicitly expressed his wish to return to Brazil, a key factor driving the negotiations forward.
West Ham had initially considered sanctioning the transfer only if they could secure Paqueta on loan for the rest of the season, viewing him as crucial to their Premier League survival hopes. However, the club's recent form—including victories over Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in their last two league games—has seen them close the gap to five points behind Nottingham Forest, potentially reducing their immediate reliance on the midfielder.
Contractual and Strategic Considerations
Flamengo's reluctance to agree to a loan-back arrangement was influenced by strategic reasoning; the Brazilian club believed they could acquire Paqueta more affordably in the summer, when he would have only 12 months remaining on his contract with West Ham. This stance ultimately led to the agreement for a permanent transfer now.
West Ham's management were reportedly disappointed by Paqueta's desire to leave, given the support the club provided him during a lengthy spot-fixing investigation. Paqueta was cleared by an independent commission in July 2025 after a probe that lasted nearly two years, a period during which the club stood by him.
Paqueta's Legacy at West Ham
Lucas Paqueta joined West Ham from French side Lyon in 2022 and went on to make 124 appearances for the club. His departure marks the end of a significant chapter for both the player and the Hammers, as they navigate the latter part of the Premier League season without one of their key creative talents.
