Two years after West Ham United spent £25 million bringing Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme to the Premier League, the Londoners are returning to Palmeiras for another baby-faced Selecao starlet.
One by the name of Heittor Vinicius.
It is fair to say things did not work out for Guilherme at the Hammers. Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon liberated the Brazil Under-20 international during the January transfer window, offering Guilherme a West Ham United escape route after only two league starts in a season-and-a-half.
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Luis Guilherme of Sporting CP (L), Gustavo Sa of FC Famalicao (C) and Marcos Vinicios Lopes Moura (Sorriso) of FC Famalicao (R) in action during the Liga Portugal Betclic football match between Sporting CP and FC Famalicao at Estadio Jose Alvalade. Final score: Sporting CP 1:0 FC Famalicao.
Those struggles, though, do not appear to be putting West Ham off when it comes to their pursuit of Palmeiras’ latest prospect.
West Ham United ‘closely monitoring’ Palmeiras striker Heittor Vinicius
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Brazilian reporter Jorge Nicola claims to have been informed by Heittor Vinicius’ camp that West Ham are showing real, sustained interest ahead of the summer transfer window.
“Let’s get to the exclusive information. It comes from the staff of striker Heittor, an 18-year-old player from Palmeiras,” Nicola says.
Luis Guilherme of Sporting CP during the Primeira Liga match between Sporting CP and FC Famalicao
Photo by Carlos Rodrigues/Getty Images
“The information suggests that West Ham intend to sign him; a Premier League team with significant investment capacity. They are closely monitoring the steps of the 18-year-old centre-forward.”
The doyen of South American football, Tim Vickery feels that West Ham simply signed Luis Guilherme too early. A teenager snapped up for £25 million after just five Brazilian Serie A appearances. That is five more than Heittor has to his name, even if his record at youth-level speaks for itself.
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“The player’s numbers are quite good,” Nicola explains. “An interesting fact; this season, despite being much younger than his Palmeiras U20 teammates, he already has 10 appearances and five goals.
“Two of those goals were in four games in the Copa Libertadores U20 tournament, plus three goals in three matches in the Brazilian Championship for that age group.”
“Heittor only turns 19 in September. But he played for Palmeiras’ U-20 team when he was only 17 years old. Last season, he scored 10 goals in 35 matches.
“Heittor is that classic centre-forward; a number nine, a good header of the ball who can play as a targetman. It’s incredible how European football clubs monitor, observe, and desire players from all walks of life.”
Armando Gonzalez also on the radar as striker targets emerge
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Armando Gonzalez of Mexico, celebrates after scoring a goal during an international friendly match between Mexico and Iceland at La Corregidora Stadium on February 25, 2026 in Queretaro, Mexico.
Currently out with a knee injury, Heittor is under contract until 2029.
Yet, having sold Guilherme, Endrick, Estevao, Gabriel Jesus, Vitor Reis, Vinicius Jr, Yerry Mina and Richard Rios to some of the biggest clubs in Europe over the last decade, Palmeiras have a history of cashing in for the right price.
Still only 18, it remains to be seen what West Ham have planned, if indeed they ‘intend to sign’ Heittor this summer. A first-team role? A place with Greg Lincoln’s Under-21s? Or perhaps they will loan him back to Brazil for a year or two.
“I am a very powerful, fast, and clinical player,” the self-confident Heittor told reporters a few months back, drawing comparisons with fellow centre-forward Endrick, now on loan at Lyon from Real Madrid.
“I see a lot of myself in Endrick, who is also a physical and fast player.”
According to claims out of Mexico, West Ham held talks with Armando ‘Hormiga’ Gonzalez’s representatives recently as well. It appears that a young centre-forward is high on their list of summer priorities.
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