West Ham chief David Sullivan appears to have had the last laugh on the Lucas Paqueta deal as the payment terms were revealed amid claims his flight to Brazil has now been booked.
After weeks of tension, public posturing and brinkmanship, the latest development suggests the balance of power in the Lucas Paqueta saga has shifted decisively in West Ham’s favour.
It is fair to say neither David Sullivan nor Paqueta are the most popular figures among West Ham fans right now.
But it seems Sullivan’s hardline stance has claimed a victory of sorts after the Hammers were left in the very difficult bargaining position of being forced to negotiate for an unhappy player who only wanted to leave for one destination – his boyhood club Flamengo.
There has been claim and counterclaim made about what stage the Paqueta saga is at.
Sullivan has last laugh on Paqueta deal as ‘flight booked’
On Monday, Flamengo’s president claimed a deal with West Ham for Paqueta was imminent.
Luiz Eduardo Baptista broke his silence on the talks with the Hammers when revealing the deal was close.
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And he went on the record to reassure Sullivan that West Ham have his word that Flamengo will honour any payment structure agreed.
Flamengo’s initial offer for Paqueta amounted to around £32m including performance-related add-ons.
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With the player pleading with Nuno Espirito Santo to let him leave despite the club battling relegation, West Ham were put in a very awkward position.
Sullivan and the Hammers board have had a poor reputation when it comes to getting good value from sales in recent years.
But the club have stood firm in the face of Paqueta’s demands and Flamengo’s persistence.
Sullivan has been demanding the Paqueta fee be paid in as few instalments as possible.
The Hammers’ majority owner did the same thing when selling Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.
West Ham’s hardline stance on Paqueta pays off – literally
Usually a transfer fee is paid in equal annual chunks over the course of the contract the player signs with the new team – but West Ham insisted Spurs must pay the £54.5m for Kudus in three instalments.
Sources in Brazil and England have been tripping over themselves to lay claim to an agreement being sealed.
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But West Ham chief Sullivan has had the last laugh on the Paqueta deal as his ‘flight is booked’.
It seems today is the day the Paqueta saga finally moves towards its conclusion.
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On Monday night, Sullivan confidant Sean Whetstone revealed his club sources poured cold water on Brazilian media claims that a deal was done between West Ham and Flamengo.
“These reports are totally wrong, they are miles out, it’s hilarious,” the sources told Hammers insider Whetstone.
Transfer sources have poured cold water on Brazilian media claims that a deal will be concluded in the next 24 hours between West Ham and Flamengo.
Responding to reports about fee and that payment terms are the only hurdle plus Lucas Paqueta could fly out to Brazil as early as… pic.twitter.com/wEXAlY8YnP
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) January 26, 2026
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If that was brinkmanship from Sullivan and the West Ham board, it certainly worked.
Because now it is being reported across Brazil that not only have Flamengo finally given in to Sullivan’s valuation and payment terms, but the deal is now so close Paqueta could make his second Black and Red debut this weekend.
Globo reporter Cahe Mota has claimed an agreement has now been reached over payments for the signing of Paqueta with the £38m payable in two instalments over 24 months.
Flamengo agree full payment in two years as Paqueta debut eyed
Mota says that was the only remaining hurdle in the deal, which is now believed to be imminent.
Monica Alves, a reporter for Coluna do Fla – Flamengo’s biggest website – has gone one further.
She states that ‘Paqueta is very close to being announced as Flamengo’s new signing’.
In fact she reports West Ham’s £51m record signing is scheduled to arrive in Rio de Janeiro this Thursday night as Flamengo ‘race against time’ to get the contract signed so Paqueta can be available for the club’s Brazil Super Cup showdown with Corinthians on Sunday.
Muito próximo de ser anunciado como novo reforço do Flamengo, Lucas Paquetá tem chegada prevista ao Rio de Janeiro na noite de quinta-feira (29).
Com isso, o meio campista corre contra o tempo para assinar contrato e ficar à disposição do Rubro-Negro para a disputa da Supercopa… pic.twitter.com/bgnEaQYCR0
— Mônica Alves (@monicaalvesfs) January 27, 2026
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With the Paqueta money coming in, West Ham could be in for a busy final week of the January transfer window.
Attentions have turned to bolstering the defence with Chelsea dropping a major hint a West Ham deal is on the cards.
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