Paqueta Agrees to Join Flamengo from Premier League with a Transfer Fee of €41.25 Million

In his prime, a Brazilian player and the attacking centerpiece of a Premier League team chooses to leave the top league and return to Brazil’s Serie A; this is exactly the case with West Ham’s most valuable player, Paqueta.

According to the latest report from Sky Sports chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol, a verbal agreement has been reached for Paqueta’s transfer from West Ham to Flamengo. The deal is worth €35.8 million, approximately €41.25 million (excluding add-ons, with part of the fee paid in installments), exceeding his €35 million valuation on Transfermarkt. Within the next 24 hours, Paqueta is expected to sign the official contract, marking his return to Brazil’s Serie A to prepare for this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Paqueta is a product of Flamengo’s youth academy. He transferred to AC Milan in Italy’s Serie A during the 2019 winter window for €38.4 million, moved to Lyon in the summer of 2020 for €23 million, and then joined West Ham in the Premier League in the summer of 2022 for €42.95 million. His career stats for these three European top leagues clubs are as follows:At Milan: 44 appearances, 1 goal, 3 assists; at Lyon: 80 appearances, 21 goals, 13 assists; at West Ham: 139 appearances, 23 goals, 15 assists.Paqueta was once highly recommended by Pep Guardiola and almost signed for Manchester City — a near miss that can only be described as unfortunate.

Now 28 years old, Paqueta is in the prime years for a modern footballer. Standing 1.80 meters tall and left-footed, he primarily plays as an attacking midfielder but can also operate in central midfield and left midfield. His current contract runs until 2027. This season in the Premier League, he has started all 18 appearances, scoring 4 goals and providing 1 assist; in the League Cup, he played once and scored once.