Lucas Paqueta reveals emotion at West Ham welcome

West Ham have a new hero in Lucas Paqueta.

The Brazilian has just signed for the Hammers for a fee of around £36million in a deal that includes add-ons that could make him the club’s most expensive player ever.

And having made his debut against Tottenham, Paqueta has opened up on that special moment and expressed his aims in claret and blue.

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has thanked the Hammers fan for his welcome and is ready to hit the ground running.

The 25-year-old was greeted by the London Stadium prior to kick-off versus Spurs followed by a raucous cheer when he was subbed on.

He said the reception he got from the fans: “Made me incredibly emotional: my wife and mum were crying.”

The former Lyon attacking midfielder now plans “to devote myself to this club – to repay the trust of everyone.”

He continued: “I can already feel that difference (in England) to the football elsewhere – it’s quicker, more competitive and in training you feel it too. It’s the kind of football I love.

“I’m the type who likes competing and hates losing and I want to embrace that, settle in properly and become a fundamental part of the team.”

Paqueta is friends with Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, both were teammates at Lyon and for the Brazil national team.

West Ham were supposed to play the Toon this weekend but the game was postponed due to the death of the Queen.

But Paqueta shared what Guimaraes said to him ahead of his transfer to West Ham. He revealed: “Bruno told me the Premier League is a great competition and was very complimentary about West Ham.

“He told me it was a great club and difficult to play against. I just joked and said, ‘They’ll be even more difficult when I am there.’”

West Ham are set to face Everton away next weekend – if the match does go ahead the day before her majesty’s funeral.