“This is it”: Wolves defeat West Ham and Newcastle United to secure a £11.5 million transfer
The first acquisition made by West Ham under Julen Lopetegui will be revealed soon.
In a major coup for the London team, West Ham is said to have finalized a transfer agreement to bring Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno to the London Stadium. With this transfer, the new era of Julen Lopetegui officially began.
The 28-year-old’s acquisition is a step toward the incoming Spaniard’s stated aim of rejuvenating an aging Hammers defense. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the relocation will be finalized “within the next few hours.”
This year, the Brazilian star made his debut for his country in a friendly against England. West Ham is said to have paid £10.2 million plus £1.28 million in add-ons for him. Bruno joined Flamengo in 2022 after attending the Cruzeiro academy in his native nation.
Romano posted on social networking site X, saying: “ICYMI: West Ham has signed its first player for Lopetegui, Fabrício Bruno, a Brazilian CB.
Let’s go, Fabrício Bruno to West Ham! Flamengo and West Ham have reached a verbal agreement for the 28-year-old center defender. Not to be missed: a set price of €12 million + €1.5 million in add-ons. Lopetegui will initially sign a Brazilian CB at West Ham.”
Bruno’s €2.5 million move to Flamengo two years ago is still in effect for another year and a half, but the Brazilian club seems to have approved a Premier League trade in an attempt to turn a tidy profit.
Bruno will not be playing for Brazil in the Copa America this summer. Reports of his sale follow speculation linking West Ham to a plan to bring Max Kilman back to Wolves and Lopetegui.
Trial Football revealed earlier this year that Wolves and Newcastle United, two of West Ham’s Premier League rivals, were also interested in Bruno. However, the Magpies have since redirected their center-back recruiting efforts toward Tosin Adarabioyo and Lloyd Kelly, two free agents. Atalanta, the Serie A team who won the Europa League, was also listed as an interested party.
