Lucas Paqueta to Flamengo: The inside story of a historic transfer

Robin Bairner

Updated: 30 Jan 2026 09:27 GMT
7 min read

Lucas Paqueta, West Ham, 2025/26 — © IMAGO

Lucas Pacqueta has been spotted partying in Brazil after joining Flamengo from West Ham in a transfer that his new club has branded “historic”.

Article continues under the video

The former AC Milan and Lyon star has become the most expensive player in the history of Brazilian football, surpassing the likes of Gerson and Vitor Roque as the biggest signing in Serie A history.

It was not a transfer without drama, though. West Ham initially did not want to see him leave while Flamengo had to talk the Hammers down from an initially massive transfer fee.

Current ETV

Lucas Paquetá

AM, M (C)

Flamengo

Lucas Paquetá

AM, M (C)

Flamengo

ETV Range

€56.2M - €68.7M

The Brazilians were ultimately able to announce the deal earlier this week, stating: “Lucas Paqueta is coming home. Coming back to Flamengo. A historic move. A milestone in the world football market, on par with Flamengo.”

FootballTransfers has spoken to sources close to the deal to find out exactly how a complicated deal was finally completed.

É uma contratação gigantesca pro Flamengo. Dentro e fora de campo

Além de um grande jogador, Paquetá é um cria do Ninho e flamenguista doente. A identificação com o torcedor já existia.

A sinergia com a arquibancada vai ajudar muito.pic.twitter.com/mMFp6yAifK
— Futmais | Menino Fut (@futtmais) January 29, 2026

Flamengo’s hard ball negotiations

Flamengo initially made contact with West Ham on 23 December over the possibility of signing Paqueta, and these talks would drag on through the Christmas period before being definitively concluded on 28 January.

Sporting director Jose Boto was at the forefront of these discussions, which was far from straightforward as West Ham attempted to retain one of their star players as they fight against relegation from the Premier League.

The Irons set their initial asking price at €60 million, which is a figure entirely in line with Pacqueta’s Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €62.4m, yet this was not a price that Flamengo wanted to pay.

Boto successfully drove West Ham’s price down to €42m, which is €1m less that the English club paid for the Brazil international when they signed him in August 2022.

That he even managed to broker a permanent deal at all was something of an achievement. West Ham sought to agree a loan move with an option to buy, but this possibility was rejected by both Paqueta and Flamengo.

Crucially, he was also able to secure a more favourable payment schedule – which is something the Premier League side rejected out of hand when first approached by the Flamengo director.

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A post shared by Lucas Paquetá (@lucaspaqueta)

Paqueta the driving force behind the deal

Paqueta’s situation made things complicated for the London club. He made it clear that he wanted to return home to Rio de Janeiro – and that he had no intention of playing elsewhere in Europe.

The 28-year-old especially wanted to move to Flamengo. The Maracana side is regarded as one of the most financially powerful institutions in South American football and has a modern setup to match.

Flamengo’s ability to compete for titles on all fronts further fuelled Paqueta’s desire to sign for the club.

With the deal now signing and sealed, an exciting new chapter begins for the Brazilian, who charmed West Ham with 23 goals and 15 assists in a spell that will ultimately be fondly remembered by the London side.

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