West Ham complete £51m deal for Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta from Lyon, their eighth signing of the summer

West Ham have completed the signing of Lyon playmaker Lucas Paqueta in a club-record £51m deal. The Brazilian midfielder becomes David Moyes' eighth signing of the summer, taking the Hammers' total transfer spend over £150m. Ad Despite typically hard negotiating by Lyon, West Ham have successfully acquired a Brazil international with real pedigree.

Paqueta was a key contributor to Brazil's 2021 Copa America win, and has been a rare shining light for Lyon in recent seasons. Ballon d'OrCould Mead beat Putellas to Ballon d’Or?04/08/2022 AT 09:04 Brazil manager Tite told the Guardian in June that Paqueta is one of the stars that takes pressure off key man Neymar and gives the Selecao a real chance of winning their sixth World Cup. Paqueta emerged at AC Milan in 2019, having joined in a €35m transfer from Flamengo.

He moved to Lyon a year later for €20m, where he has starred in a somewhat dysfunctional team. He scored 10 goals in his debut season in France, adding 11 more last season. He also laid on seven assists in each season in France.

The 25-year-old is more than a light-weight playmaker though. Even in a physically demanding league like Ligue 1, Paqueta is among the top performing midfielders in terms of pressures, interceptions and tackles. He brings quality in both attacking and defensive phases.

West Ham have significantly increased their strength in depth this summer. The addition of Sassuolo forward Gianluca Scamacca, Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, Burnley's Maxwel Cornet, Chelsea veteran Emerson, Swansea midfielder Flynn Downes and PSG duo Thilo Kehrer and Alphonse Areola, are balanced by the departures of defender Issa Diop and winger Andriy Yarmolenko. In addition, the Hammers have loaned out Ryan Fredericks,