It did not take Botafogo goalkeeper John Victor long to give his own view of events after a reported £8.5 million move to Premier League outfit West Ham United collapsed.
A matter of hours, in fact.
Reports that John Victor would not be joining West Ham United after all started to filter through at around 4pm UK time. By midnight, the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Serie A champion had broken his short-lived silence.
And, just one day after John Victor said his goodbyes to Botafogo, the 29-year-old goalkeeper found himself renewing acquaintances with a fanbase who thought they had seen the last of him.
As West Ham agree to sign Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen to the tune of £18 million instead, John Victor is forced to shift his focus back to helping Botafogo retain the league and continental crowns they secured at the end of 2024.
Goalkeeper John Victor of Botafogo warms up prior to Recopa
Photo by Manuel Cortina/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
John Victor speaks out as West Ham United deal with Botafogo breaks down
Writing on his official Instagram account, John Victor delivered an emotional address to Botafogo supporters.
And while West Ham always preferred Hermansen – new goalkeeping coach Casper Ankergren will be delighted to reunite with someone he worked with closely at Brondby – ‘jilted John’ appears to suggest that he too played his part in Thursday’s dramatic collapse.
“Today, I come to express my support to the Botafogo fans, who have supported me so much since the day I arrived here,” says the former Real Valladolid goalkeeper, who moved to the Estadio Olimpico Nilton Santos in January 2024.
🚨⚒️ EXCL: West Ham reach verbal agreement to sign John as new goalkeeper from Botafogo.
€10m package almost agreed with final details being sorted, John agreed terms and the deal is almost sealed.
Documents being checked… and then, here we go. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/8r1LGWb0yc
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 5, 2025
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“I did receive an offer to leave the club and pursue other dreams in my career. I thought about it with my family and needed a few days to talk to you. I’m human, and it’s normal to feel thoughtful at these times, but we chose to continue living Botafogo.
“I never said I wanted to leave the club.”
Well, that final claim is one which may put a puzzled expression on West Ham faces.
John Victor was left out of Botafogo’s squad for the midweek Copa do Brasil clash with Red Bull Bragantino. Davide Ancelotti, the club’s head coach and son of Carlo, then thanked the goalkeeper for all he had done for the Rio-based outfit in his pre-match presser.
Something that can be said with much certainty, however, is that Graham Potter will be delighted with the impending addition of a goalkeeper confident with the ball at his feet, as well as proving himself to be a shot-stopper of Premier League quality despite Leicester’s relegation.
Mads Hermansen celebrates during Swansea City v Leicester City - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images
Mads Hermansen deal agreed as Graham Potter lands Leicester City goalkeeper
Hammers News’ chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey reports that Mads Hermansen’s ‘footwork’ was a key factor behind West Ham installing him as their number one choice.
Hermansen shone when Leicester stunned Julen Lopetegui’s side last December at the King Power Stadium, meanwhile, and also denied Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer from the penalty spot.
As for John Victor, the former Santos giant is wasting no time trying to repair a relationship which appeared strained during last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Cruzeiro. John was jeered by sections of the support after his poor throw out led to one of the visitors’ goals.
“It’s a special club in my life, and I’m very grateful for everything it’s given me and my family,” he adds, seemingly in full damage-limitation mode. “It’s an immense pleasure to wear this shirt!
“Botafogo is my home, my choice, and the right decision for new dreams and achievements that we can still strive for together. There’s still time for Botafogo!”