West Ham United have officially signed 18-year-old Luis Guilherme from Brazilian side Palmeiras, ending a protracted transfer saga. Guilherme has committed to a five-year contract at London Stadium. Last week, 90min reported that West Ham were eager to finalize the deal, having agreed to a package worth £29.5 million with Palmeiras. The signing is seen as a significant achievement for the Hammers, who have secured a highly sought-after talent.
Guilherme had attracted attention from several top European clubs in recent months. In the final stages of the transfer, intermediaries claiming to represent Saudi Arabia approached him, offering to triple the salary proposed by West Ham. Despite this tempting offer, the Saudi representatives did not formalize their interest, allowing the move to East London to proceed.
Expressing his joy, Guilherme told West Ham channels, “I’m very happy to be signing with West Ham United, a club that trusted in my work. I also want to thank everyone at West Ham, particularly Tim [Steidten, technical director] and his team who came to Brazil, and not only talked with me, but also with my family.”
Guilherme highlighted his discussions with head coach Julen Lopetegui, stating, “The head coach and I already had a conversation. He showed me his project and I believe I’ll learn a lot from him. He’s coached at the national level in Spain and managed big clubs.”
Reflecting on his ambitions, Guilherme added, “The Premier League is the best league in the world. I believe I’ll improve a lot here with the entire staff at West Ham, which is crucial for my development. Growing up, whenever I had the chance, I watched English football. Seeing how it is and now being able to play here is an incredible feeling.”
Guilherme’s dream of playing in England began at eleven, and he expressed his gratitude, saying, “Since I was eleven, I had this dream, and now it’s becoming a reality. I’m very happy about it and grateful to West Ham. Let’s go for it!”
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