West Ham United sign Brazilian Winger Luis Guilherme

West Ham United have announced the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras on a five-year contract. 

Guilherme has already made 40 senior appearances for Palmeiras, won the Brazilian Série A title, played in the Copa Libertadores, and been capped at the Under-20 level for Brazil.

Reflecting on his move, Guilherme said, "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 and his team who came to Brazil, and not only talked with me but also with my family. They presented the project, and both my family and I liked it. So, I'm very happy to be signing with this club and hope to contribute as much as possible. If things go well, we have a beautiful journey ahead."

Technical Director Tim Steidten and Head Coach Julen Lopetegui identified Guilherme as a priority target. Steidten expressed his delight at securing the young talent.

"We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player. He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London."

Guilherme's versatility allows him to play across various attacking positions. Steidten added, "He is technically very gifted but also has very good physical qualities - great pace, strength, and stamina. These traits will help him adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football."

The young winger will join West Ham for pre-season training in early July. He shared his excitement about working with Lopetegui.

"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."

Guilherme also emphasised his admiration for the Premier League.

"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 arrival at West Ham is part of a strategic plan to build a competitive squad for the future. Steidten highlighted this, saying, "This is a very important signing for us – we’ve worked hard across the club, working closely with the board, to secure Luis’s signature. We know how tough the Premier League is, and we want a squad that is competitive next season, but also to find the balance of ensuring that we plan for the longer-term future. Exciting young players like Luis Guilherme will help us to reach those goals."

Guilherme, who has been taking English lessons, is eager to start his journey in the Premier League.

"I’ve been studying for six months," he said. "I don’t know many words yet, but being here at West Ham and talking with the players will also help a lot and will make it easier to learn quickly and speak fluently."