West Ham United have announced that they have reached an agreement to sign Brazilian defender Luizao on a free transfer.
The 20-year-old will join the Hammers from Sao Paulo on January 1, 2023, subject to international clearance, and will put pen to paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal until the summer of 2026.
West Ham have also confirmed that Luizao will initially link up with Mark Robson's developmental squad and "continue his evolution" in the club's academy.
Luizao, who arrived in London on Monday to complete his medical, leaves Sao Paulo after six years with the Brazilian outfit and posted a farewell message to his boyhood club earlier this week.
"If my cycle in Sao Paulo closes, gratitude is undoubtedly the word that stays, it's been six years of a lot of learning and work," Luizao posted on Instagram.
We are pleased to confirm that a deal has been agreed to sign the promising Brazilian defender Luizão 🤝🇧🇷
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 18, 2022
"I arrived a dreamy boy and left the club as a man with goals and goals to be met, I know many will judge the form I leave but I make it clear that above all I maintain my respect and love for the club. Thank you Sao Paulo Football Club."
Luizao, who has become West Ham's first signing of the winter window, made his senior debut in May and has since enjoyed an impressive breakthrough year with Sao Paulo in 2022.
The 6ft 2in defender made a total of 26 first-team appearances across all competitions and helped Sao Paulo reach the Copa Sudamericana final as well as the semi-finals of the Copa Do Brasil.
Luizao will now look to continue his development in West Ham's academy system before stepping up to David Moyes's first-team squad.
Oliver Thomas
