Lucas Paqueta reveals how close he actually came to leaving West Ham after failed Man City move
West Ham attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta was close to joining Manchester City in August 2023 before the FA charged him with alleged spot-fixing.
The FA investigated whether Paqueta intentionally sought bookings in matches between 2022 and 2023 for betting purposes.
But after a long and drawn-out investigation, Paqueta was cleared of the spot-fixing charges in July 2025 after an independent regulatory commission found them to be “not proven” following a hearing earlier this year.
Whilst the charge being dropped was excellent news for the Brazilian, the damage was already done for Paqueta, who missed out on ‘life-changing money’ after his £80million move to Man City collapsed in 2023.
Now, the West Ham maverick has finally broken silence on the situation and revealed how close he came to joining the Cityzens.
Lucas Paqueta speaks out on failed Man City transfer
A chance to work under Pep Guardiola could have transformed his career, with the 28-year-old telling Brazilian outlet Global that he was only days away from sealing a switch to the Etihad Stadium.
“Everyone knows that I really had a transfer to City. I probably would have signed the week I received the letter (from the English Football Association),” Paqueta said.
“Professionally speaking, I lost that, that transfer, a leap in my career. Psychologically, I think that’s where I was most affected, by the fear of this indecision, the uncertainty of my future, despite knowing who I am, what I do, what I’ve done.
“But, due to the circumstances of the investigations and the way the federation handled everything, it generated fear in us.”
Psychologically, Nuno Espirito Santo’s star was impacted heavily, with West Ham and Paqueta even considering legal action against the FA for the damage caused.
What Paqueta must do to earn another shot at joining Man City
Paqueta can be forgiven for seeing his form and motivation drop since being denied a life-changing opportunity, and he must use it as fuel to reach even higher levels.
The former Lyon man has never scored more than four goals in a Premier League campaign, and considering he’s already netted three in 11 matches, he’s on course for his best return.
Man City have been linked with Paqueta since his initial move collapsed, so if he can continue proving his class in claret and blue, he could have another bite of the cherry.
That said, with so many quality number 10s already playing for City, the Brazilian could struggle to dislodge the likes of Rayan Cherki and Phil Foden in any case.