Lucas Paquetá

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

When Lucas Paquetá walked through the doors at West Ham United in August 2022, he carried with him a reputation forged in Brazil, Italy, and France. He had won the 2016 Copa São Paulo de Júniores with Flamengo's youth team, played for AC Milan, and been named in the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for 2020–21 with Lyon. At West Ham, he was the club's record signing, a statement of intent from David Moyes. His first season was defined by moments of quality. On 4 January 2023, he scored his first Premier League goal at Elland Road, a vital equaliser in a 2–2 draw with Leeds United. But the defining moment came in Prague on 7 June 2023. With the score 1–1 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, Paquetá received the ball in the 90th minute and delivered the assist for Jarrod Bowen's winner. The goal secured West Ham's first major European trophy in decades. The next day, UEFA named Paquetá in the competition's Team of the Season. His time at West Ham was relatively short. On 28 January 2026, Flamengo and West Ham United reached an agreement for his transfer, for a reported fee of £35.5 million (€41 million), setting a new record as the most expensive incoming signing in South American history. Paquetá later revealed he rejected transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in order to return to Flamengo.

In Their Own Story

The night of 7 June 2023 in Prague. The UEFA Europa Conference League final was deep into the second half, the score locked at 1–1. Fiorentina had pushed hard, but West Ham had held firm. Then, in the 90th minute, the ball found Lucas Paquetá. He had been on the pitch for the entire match, his left foot probing for openings, his vision searching for the pass that would break the deadlock. He saw Jarrod Bowen making a run. The pass was perfect, threaded through the defence. Bowen took it, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted home. The stadium erupted. West Ham had won their first major European trophy in decades. Paquetá had provided the assist. A day later, UEFA named him in the competition's Team of the Season.

Reader's Guide

Lucas Paquetá's time at West Ham United spanned from August 2022 to January 2026. He arrived as the club's record signing, with the BBC estimating the fee at more than £50m with additional add-ons. He made his debut on 31 August 2022 in a 1–1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur. His first Premier League goal came on 4 January 2023 at Elland Road, a 2–2 draw with Leeds United. The pinnacle of his West Ham career came in the 2022–23 UEFA Europa Conference League. He played a key role throughout the campaign, and in the final against Fiorentina on 7 June 2023, he assisted Jarrod Bowen's 90th-minute winner. The 2–1 victory secured the trophy, and Paquetá was named in UEFA's Team of the Season for the competition. In January 2026, Paquetá returned to Flamengo. The transfer fee was reported as £35.5 million (€41 million), a record for an incoming signing in South American history. Paquetá stated that he had rejected interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea to make the move back to Brazil.

Did You Know?

• Paquetá's transfer to West Ham in 2022 was for a fee estimated by the BBC to be more than £50m with additional add-ons, making him the club's record signing at the time.
• He assisted Jarrod Bowen's 90th-minute winner in the 2023 UEFA Europa Conference League final, securing West Ham's first major European trophy in decades.
• A day after the final, UEFA named Paquetá in the competition's Team of the Season.
• When he returned to Flamengo in 2026, the transfer fee of £35.5 million (€41 million) set a new record as the most expensive incoming signing in South American history.
• Paquetá said he rejected transfer interest from Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in order to return to Flamengo.