Flamengo has officially announced the return of Lucas Paquetá, with the Brazilian midfielder making a permanent switch from West Ham United.
After several weeks of negotiations, Flamengo reached an agreement for a fee of £35.8 million (approximately $49.4 million), marking Paquetá as the most expensive signing in the history of Brazilian football.
“Lucas Paquetá is coming home,” stated Flamengo in their announcement.
“His return to Flamengo is a historic milestone in the global football market. We extend our gratitude to our sponsors, who are invested in Flamengo and have supported the efforts to make this return possible. Most importantly, we thank the Flamengo Nation for their unwavering support in transforming dreams into reality.”
West Ham had hoped to retain Paquetá until the season’s conclusion as they fight against relegation in the Premier League.
However, Paquetá, who had 18 months remaining on his contract, expressed a desire to return to Brazil in preparation for the World Cup.
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“I’m incredibly happy to be back home,” stated Paquetá, 28, in a video shared on his Instagram. “I must thank the Flamengo president, the club, and their sponsors. I also want to express my gratitude to the fans for making this dream of coming back a reality.”
Paquetá originally left Flamengo in 2018 to join AC Milan. The Brazilian international, who transferred to West Ham in the summer of 2022 from Lyon, faced challenges during his time in England.
He was involved in a lengthy investigation by the FA regarding alleged gambling rule breaches, which concluded last year when he was cleared of any wrongdoing after being exonerated.
The attacking midfielder recorded four goals and one assist in 18 Premier League matches this season, and bid farewell to West Ham on social media before heading back to his home country on Wednesday.
He is anticipated to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, where he will undergo a medical examination before finalizing a contract with Flamengo until December 2029.