Player wants to change
©IMAGO
Cruzeiro has just set a Brazilian transfer record with the transfer of Gerson (28, Zenit) for 27 million euros, and it is in danger of being surpassed again – and clearly. Flamengo Rio de Janeiro has reached an agreement with West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá to return to his homeland, according to media reports. The 28-year-old was missing from the squad for the FA Cup game against QPR on Sunday (2:1 nV) at his own request and therefore wants to leave the Premier League. The rumored transfer fee is tough.
According to the English newspaper “The Guardian”, the champions and Copa Libertadores winners in 2025 are ready to put around 40 million euros on the table for Paquetá. Higher transfer fees are no longer uncommon in Brazilian football. Since the start of the 2024/25 season, more than 20 million euros have been spent on five players, something that has never happened before. A new TV deal, higher prize money from national and international competitions and increased income from player sales to Europe and the USA make this development possible.
The manipulation process caused Paquetá’s stellar career to stall
In 2022, the Hammers themselves transferred around 43 million euros to Olympique Lyon for the 61-time Brazilian international. As a result, Paquetá, who comes from Flamengo’s youth ranks, developed into one of the most valuable players in the Premier League with a market value of up to 65 million euros who is not or was not under contract with the biggest clubs. The rapid development experienced a sudden setback in 2023 when the English FA investigated Paquetá on suspicion of match-fixing. He had been accused of deliberately provoking yellow cards on several occasions that acquaintances placed bets on. He was previously on the verge of a move to Manchester City, which then fell through. In October 2025 he was given a warning, but the feared year-long ban did not materialize.
As part of the verdict, it was reported that Paquetá wanted to leave West Ham in January. It is initially unclear whether the Hammers will accept the lucrative offer for the playmaker, who is bound until 2027. The Londoners are in 18th place in the table, seven points behind the savior bank, and relegation would, in case of doubt, be significantly more expensive than a lower transfer fee in the summer. Paquetá continues to be one of the regulars: he contributed four goals in 18 league games this season, with a total of 23 goals and 15 assists in 139 games since his move to West Ham.