Done: West Ham confirm arrival of Lyon’s Lucas Paquetá in club-record deal
West Ham have confirmed the acquisition of Lucas Paquetá from Lyon in a club-record €60 million (£51.3 million) agreement.
The 25-year-old is the Hammers’ ninth new signing this summer, signing a contract until 2027 with an option to extend it by another year.
The arrangement was struck verbally between the player and the club on Friday and was formalised on Monday evening. The Hammers will pay a set price of €43 million (£36.7 million), with €17 million (£14.5 million) in add-ons bringing the total sum of the agreement over the £45 million paid to Eintracht Frankfurt for Sébastien Haller in 2019.
David Moyes will be hoping that the former Inter Milan midfielder can help his team reach the back of the goal more frequently. West Ham have only scored one goal in their first four Premier League games.
- Chelsea agree transfer deal worth £70M for Leicester City defender Wesley Fofana
- Benzema: It’s hard to match Cristiano’s goal total
- Bernardo Silva: Pep Guardiola says Manchester City midfielder likes Barcelona a lot amid transfer speculation
Paquetá is eager to get started after facing his new team in the Europa League quarter-finals last season. “I am overjoyed to be here. I hope this is the start of a pleasant voyage. “I hope my stay here is fruitful,” he said on the club’s website. “West Ham had a really fantastic season last season, and I hope they continue to have more and more strong seasons throughout my tenure at the club.”
Paquetá began his career at Flamengo and went to Europe when he joined Milan in 2019. He spent two seasons in Serie A but only scored one goal in 37 league appearances for the Rossoneri before joining Lyon. His record improved in France, as he scored 21 goals in 80 appearances across all competitions while also securing a berth in Brazil’s team.
“I’m happy to welcome Lucas to West Ham,” stated manager David Moyes. “He’s a player I’ve watched from afar for a long time, and we saw him up close and personal during our Europa League campaign last season.”
He’s a really gifted footballer, and while he’ll need time to adjust to Premier League life, we’re thrilled to have another proven international on board.”
Paquetá might make his West Ham debut against Tottenham in the London derby on Wednesday night. Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Maxwel Cornet, Flynn Downes, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson Palmieri, and Gianluca Scamacca have all joined the club.
