West Ham United are expected to have a quiet January transfer window this month but already, they have made one signing.
Before the month started, the Hammers announced the signing of 20-year-old centre-back Luizao from Sao Paulo following a breakout 2022 campaign for his hometown club, arriving on a free transfer following the end of his contract in his native Brazil.
The centre-back’s arrival has seen him initially link up with the club’s under-21s with the hope that success there will see him later earn a promotion into the first-team squad under David Moyes.
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His move was made official on New Year’s Day and just five days later, Luizao made his debut for Mark Robson’s under-21s side, featuring off the bench in their Premier League 2 victory over Everton on Friday night.
The Hammers recorded a third straight win in Premier League 2 at Haig Avenue with a 2-1 victory over the Toffees. Kamarai Swyer gave the Hammers the lead inside the opening 30 minutes, with teenage striker Divin Mubama adding a second from the penalty spot shortly before the hour mark. Less than 24 hours after starting and scoring in the win, both Swyer and Mubama were named on the Hammers’ bench for their FA Cup win over Brentford on Saturday.
With ten minutes to spare, Everton did pull a goal back, with Tom Cannon hitting a superb free-kick, but it proved to be no more than a consolation.
Luizao did not start in the game, but was introduced off the bench with 12 minutes to go in place of Regan Clayton, his first taste of English football.
Having not won any of their first 11 league games of the season, West Ham’s U21s are now on a three-match winning streak in the league and victory over Everton saw them climb out of the relegation zone. However, they will move into the bottom two again if Leicester City beat Chelsea on Monday evening.
Next up for the Hammers’ under-21s is a trip to bottom of the table Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday lunchtime before facing Manchester United at home (January 20) and Chelsea away (January 27) this month.
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