New signing – Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta (left) has joined West Ham from French club Lyon
London (AFP) – West Ham have signed Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta from French club Lyon for what the London club described on Monday as a “club record”.
Hammers did not reveal his transfer value, although Sky Sports reported it was around £51m ($60m, €60m).
But the club revealed Paqueta had signed an initial five-year contract at the London Stadium with an option for one year after becoming the eighth new player in the transfer window.
Paqueta’s arrival should boost West Ham manager David Moyes’ attacking options, as the Hammers have scored just once in their first four Premier League games – Pablo Fornals scored the 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.
“I am very happy to be here. I hope it is the start of an interesting journey. I hope my time here will be successful,” Paqueta, 25, told the West Ham website.
London (AFP) – West Ham have signed Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta from “Last season West Ham had a very good season and I hope they continue to enjoy more and more good seasons in my time at the club.”
Paqueta started his career at Flamengo, before moving to Europe when he joined AC Milan in 2019.
He then spent two seasons in the Italian league but managed to score only one goal in 37 league matches before moving to Lyon, where he achieved greater success with 21 goals in 80 appearances in all competitions while also becoming a regular player in Brazil’s squad.
“I am delighted to welcome Lucas to West Ham,” Moyes said.
“He is a player that I admired from afar for a very long time and of course we saw him soon in our Europa League campaign last season.
“He is a very talented footballer and while he will need time to adapt to the Premier League, we are excited to add another international player to our squad.”
Paqueta is the latest addition to the West Ham squad following the arrivals of Nayef Aguerd, Alphonse Areola, Maxwell Cornet, Flynn Downs, Tilo Keirer, Emerson Palmieri and Gianluca Scamacca earlier in the transfer window.
He could now be in line to make his West Ham debut in the London derby on Wednesday, at home to Tottenham.
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