West Ham United have announced the signing of Brazil international Lucas Paquetá from Lyon for a club-record £37m fee plus £15m add-ons on a five-year contract.
The midfielder becomes the Hammers 9th summer signing and takes their spending past £175m.
David Moyes side have started the Premier League season slowly, recording one win and three defeats, scoring just once in their first four games.
This forced their hand into shopping for attacking reinforcements step forward Paquetá.
After dazzling at Flamengo, AC Milan signed Paquetá in January 2018 for a fee of €38m.
Expected to set the world alight, Paquetá proceeded to register just one goal and two assists in 37 appearances for the Rossoneri.
In the summer of 2020, Paquetás time at the San Siro came to an end as he was sold to Olympique Lyonnais.
“I put myself under a lot of pressure in Milan,” Paqueta reflected in L’Equipe. “When I moved to France I told myself I didn’t have to put myself through that again. I just had to do my best.
In France, Paquetá was a player reborn.
He quickly established himself as a standout performer in Ligue 1, being named in the 2020/21 Team of the Year at the end of his first season.
Moreover, he missed just six league matches in two full campaigns in Lyon.
Despite Lyons struggles as a team, Paquetá recorded a combined 29 league goals and assists, with his underlying stats suggesting he could have had more.
The midfielder has 33 caps to his name with the Brazil national team and has become a regular starter under Tite.
This level of performance led to West Ham emerging as the leading suitor to acquire Paquetá in a sensational move.
Being linked with many top sides, it came as a shock to many that the midfielder did not end up at a Champions League team.
The pull of English football is increasing year on year.
In this scout report, we examine Paquetás strengths through tactical analysis.
The analysis highlights how he can bolster West Hams attacking performances and fit into their tactics.
Lucas Paquetá Style Of Play
Paquetás main position is the right-sided half-space as a No. 10 in a three-man midfield.
The left-footed attacking midfielder prefers to line up in the No.10 position but has been used across the midfield and even as a striker last term.
Paquetá is an all-action player, comfortable in multiple roles, which provides his manager with great tactical flexibility.
His primary duties on the pitch are to serve as a
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