Quick Read
- Lucas Paqueta transferred from West Ham United to Flamengo for £36.4 million (€42 million).
- The fee makes Paqueta the most expensive player in Brazilian Serie A history.
- Flamengo will pay the transfer fee in instalments until 2028.
- Paqueta took a wage cut, signaling his strong desire to return to Brazil.
- West Ham is currently 18th in the Premier League, five points from safety, amid a relegation battle.
Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta has completed a record-breaking £36.4 million (€42 million) transfer from West Ham United to his boyhood club Flamengo, a move that marks the most expensive signing in Brazilian Serie A history. The 28-year-old’s return to Brazil, confirmed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, concludes a period of uncertainty surrounding his future in England and leaves West Ham navigating a crucial relegation battle without a key player, albeit one who had been absent from recent squads.
A Historic Return to Brazilian Football
The agreement between West Ham and Flamengo brings Paqueta back to the club where he began his professional career, eight years after his initial departure for Europe. The £36.4 million fee, which includes a sell-on clause, shatters the previous Brazilian transfer record, surpassing Cruzeiro’s €27 million deal for Gerson from Zenit St Petersburg and Vitor Roque’s €25 million return to Palmeiras from Barcelona, according to Goal.com. Flamengo is expected to pay the hefty transfer fee in instalments until 2028, a payment plan designed to maintain the club’s financial flexibility for other potential acquisitions, as reported by ESPN.
Paqueta’s strong desire to return to his homeland played a significant role in facilitating the move. talkSPORT understands that the midfielder agreed to a wage cut to push the transfer through, underlining his eagerness to leave England. He is expected to travel to Brazil later today or by Thursday at the latest and could potentially feature for Flamengo as early as Sunday in the Brazilian Super Cup final against Corinthians.
Paqueta’s Challenging Stint in England
Lucas Paqueta’s departure from West Ham follows a challenging period in his personal and professional life in England. He had reportedly become disillusioned with life in the country, particularly after being charged with spot-fixing offences, from which he was later cleared. His wife described the saga as a ‘nightmare’ and said he spent ‘two years in hell,’ according to Goal.com. Despite these personal struggles, Paqueta made 18 appearances for West Ham this season in the Premier League, matching his best goal return with four league goals, and registering a total of five goals and one assist across all competitions. However, he had not featured for the Hammers since the start of January amid the ongoing transfer negotiations.
West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo had previously expressed his desire for a swift resolution to Paqueta’s situation, telling reporters, ‘What I hope is the situation to be solved as soon as possible. I still believe that we need to rebalance our squad. We need options in some positions. We need to become more competitive. I still believe in the work the club is doing.’
West Ham’s Relegation Battle and Transfer Window Activity
Paqueta’s exit comes at a critical juncture for West Ham, who are currently embroiled in a Premier League relegation battle. The Hammers sit in 18th place after 23 games, five points adrift of Nottingham Forest and safety. Despite losing Paqueta, the club has shown signs of resilience, securing recent wins against Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland in the Premier League, and Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup, notably all achieved without the Brazilian in the squad.
The club is actively working to strengthen its squad before the close of the transfer window. West Ham recently completed the £1 million signing of forward Adama Traore from Fulham, with an additional £1 million contingent on the Hammers avoiding relegation. They have also made loan approaches for Tottenham goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky and Chelsea defender Axel Disasi after sending Igor Julio back to Brighton, as reported by Daily Mail Sport. Additionally, James Ward-Prowse is set to join Burnley on loan, further indicating significant movement within the squad as Nuno Espirito Santo seeks to rebalance his team for the fight ahead.
The departure of Lucas Paqueta, while a record-setting financial windfall for Flamengo, underscores the complex interplay of player ambition, personal well-being, and club strategic needs within the high-stakes environment of the European transfer market, leaving West Ham to rapidly adapt their squad dynamics in a bid for Premier League survival.