West Ham United Secure £25m Signing of Brazilian Starlet Luis Guilherme, Beating Chelsea and Man United

West Ham United have officially signed Brazilian starlet Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras.

Identified as a key summer target by Hammers’ Director of Football, Tim Steidten, during a scouting mission in South America earlier this year, the 18-year-old winger attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Chelsea and Manchester United.

Nevertheless, Guilherme opted to join West Ham in a deal reportedly worth €23 million (£19.4 million) with an additional €7 million (£5.9 million) in potential add-ons.

After completing his medical on Tuesday, Guilherme signed a five-year contract, committing to the London Stadium until 2029. This move marks the first signing under new head coach Julen Lopetegui, with the transfer becoming official on June 14, when the summer window opens.

In a statement to the club’s official website, Guilherme expressed his enthusiasm for joining West Ham United:

“I am very happy to be signing with West Ham United, a club that has shown great faith in my abilities.

I want to thank everyone at West Ham, especially Tim and his team who traveled to Brazil and engaged with both me and my family. Their project resonated with us, and I am eager to contribute to the club’s success.

I have already spoken with the head coach, and his vision excites me. I believe I will learn a lot from him given his experience at the national level with Spain and top clubs.”

He continued, “The Premier League is the best in the world, and I look forward to improving here with West Ham’s staff, which is crucial for my development.

Playing English football has been a dream of mine since I was eleven, and now it’s becoming a reality. I am very grateful to West Ham and ready to embark on this journey.”

Tim Steidten shared his excitement over securing Guilherme’s signature, highlighting the young talent’s potential under Lopetegui’s guidance:

“We are thrilled that Luis Guilherme is now part of West Ham United. He is an exciting young talent we have monitored for some time. Once we knew he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.

Luis has had an impressive start to his career with Palmeiras, showcasing versatility across attacking positions, which is invaluable in modern football.”

Steidten added, “He possesses technical prowess, great pace, strength, and stamina, all crucial for adapting to the Premier League. Although he is young, we are confident in his ability to impact our first team.

He will be in a supportive environment, surrounded by other promising young players. We will help him and his family settle in, providing the time he needs to adapt.

This signing is crucial for our long-term plans, balancing immediate competitiveness with future potential.”

Born in Sergipe, Brazil, Guilherme joined Palmeiras’ academy at 11, progressing through the youth ranks before making his senior debut in April 2023. Having turned 18 in February, he made 45 first-team appearances and scored his first goal in a Copa Libertadores group-stage match in April.

Regarded as one of South America’s most promising talents, Guilherme follows in the footsteps of other Palmeiras academy graduates like Real Madrid’s Endrick, Nottingham Forest’s Danilo, and Chelsea-linked Estevao Willian.

He is set to join his new West Ham teammates ahead of their pre-season tour in Florida at the end of July.