The success of West Ham United’s loan legion has been one of the few positives in a poor season for the Premier League outfit.
Callum Marshall stood out at Huddersfield Town. England Under-21 international George Earthy was Bristol City’s Young Player of the Year, while Patrick Kelly won the League Two title at Doncaster Rovers after becoming something of a cult hero in South Yorkshire.
That is without mentioning goalkeeper Mason Terry – 17 clean sheets in Non-League for Hornchurch – or the contributions Gideon Kodua made to Wycombe Wanderers’ promotion push in the third tier.
Two years after Kodua captained West Ham to FA Youth Cup victory, the midfielder is one second-leg victory over Charlton Athletic away from a play-off final at Wembley.
West Ham United’s forgotten defender Luizao, meanwhile, moved far further afield in pursuit of his own first-team opportunities, three years after his last league appearance in senior football.
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
West Ham United’s forgotten man Luizao impresses on home debut
Up to nine clubs showed an interest in signing Luizao during the January transfer window. In the end, Polish outfit Pogon Szczecin agreed terms with West Ham, securing his signature until the end of the campaign.
Clearly, given the level of interest on both sides of the Atlantic, Luizao remains a footballer with plenty of admirers even if his two-year spell in South London has far from gone to plan.
A £4.2 million signing from Sao Paulo back in January 2023, Luizao is still awaiting his debut in West Ham’s first-team. A debut which may never arrive.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Especially as West Ham plan to sell Luizao come the summer. His temporary move to Polish football was made with a permanent departure in mind, The Hammers hoping that the 23-year-old can put himself in ‘the shop window’.
Two games in, the 6ft 2ins giant has certainly made a positive first impression.
After a 2-0 away defeat to Radiomak – his first senior league appearance since 2022 – Luizao made his home debut in a Pogon Szczecin shirt during a three-goal victory over Motor Lublin on Wednesday. Having conceded seven goals in their previous two Ekstraklasa matches, that Luizao’s home debut coincided with a much-needed clean sheet did not go unnoticed by coach Robert Kolendowicz.
“Luizao made his debut at a difficult time, so he faced a big test,” Kolendowicz told Sportowe Fakty at full-time. “He did okay [even if] he lacked experience, understanding with the other players, and confidence at times.”
That should come, however, with more minutes under his belt.
Pogon Szczecin coach excited by what Luizao can offer in Poland
Kolendowicz believes that Luizao, as a natural southpaw, will add a new dimension to Pogon Szczecin’s build-up structure.
“Luizao is a left-footed defender and that is a big advantage,” added February’s Ekstraklasa Manager of the Month. “He feels comfortable with the ball at his feet and can play a longer pass.
“Luizao played a good game today. I am happy with him. He came in at a difficult moment but he helped. He was good with the ball, he was not afraid. He moved the ball well but he was also good at defending, like the whole team today.”
“We’ll see [if we can sign him permanently]. It’s too early to talk about his status. I can’t answer that question now.”
West Ham are certainly unlikely to stand in Luizao’s way.
As club insider Sean Whetstone explains; ‘It is a player who is probably not good enough for us that we need in the shop window. We will try and move him permanently in the summer’.
Build on an impressive start, and Pogon Szczecin will be at the front of what could be a fairly packed queue.