Luis Guilherme

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Liraand the second or paternal family name is dos Santos.

Luis Guilherme

Luis Guilherme with Palmeiras in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Luis Guilherme Lira dos Santos [1]
Date of birth	(2006-02-09) 9 February 2006 (age 18)
Place of birth	Aracaju, Brazil
Position(s)	Winger
Team information
Current team	West Ham United
Number	17
Youth career
2017–2023	Palmeiras
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2023–2024	Palmeiras	30	(0)
2024–	West Ham United	2	(0)
International career‡
2022	Brazil U17	4	(3)
2023–	Brazil U20	5	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing   Brazil South American U-20 Championship Winner 2023 Colombia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 9 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 May 2024 (UTC)

Luis Guilherme Lira dos Santos (born 9 February 2006) is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club West Ham United.

Club career

Palmeiras

Born in Aracaju, Luis Guilherme played in numerous soccer schools in his hometown before joining Palmeiras in 2017. ^{[2] [3]} He signed his first professional contract with the club in June 2022. ^[2] In January 2022, Luis Guilherme was part of the squad that won the 2022 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior for the first time. ^[4] He renewed his contract in November 2023, with an increased salary and a release clause of €55 million. ^[5]

Luis Guilherme made his first team debut on 12 April 2023, coming on as a second-half substitute for José Manuel López in a 4–2 home win over Tombense, for the year's Copa do Brasil. ^[6] On 24 April 2024, he scored his first goal for Palmeiras, in the 96th minute, securing a 3–2 away win over Independiente del Valle during the 2024 Copa Libertadores group stage. ^[7]

West Ham United

In June 2024, he underwent a medical with English Premier League club West Ham United with a view to a transfer. ^[8] On 13 June 2024, the club announced that they had agreed the signing of Guilherme on a five-year contract, the transfer being finalised the following day when the transfer window opened. ^[9] He made his West Ham debut on 5 October coming on as an 85th minute substitute for Mohammed Kudus in a 4–1 Premier League win against Ipswich Town. ^[10]

International career

He was called up to the Brazil U17 for the 2022 Montaigu Tournament, where he scored three goals in four games and helped Brazil win the tournament after 38 years. ^[11] Luis Guilherme was later called up to the Brazil U20 for the 2023 South American U-20 Championship, ^{[12] [13]} being the youngest player of the Brazil U20 squad in the 21st century. ^[14] Luis Guilherme played in five matches, totaling 191 minutes, contributing to Brazil's first U20 South American Championship title in 12 years and securing a spot in the FIFA U-20 World Cup after an eight-year absence. ^{[15] [16]}

Style of play

A technical winger with good on-field decision making, Luis Guilherme is renowned for his pace, clocking a top speed of 36.4km/h in the 2022 Copa do Brasil Sub-17 final against Vasco da Gama. ^[17] He lists Argentine legend Lionel Messi and Rivaldo as inspirations to him. ^{[18] [19]} On 11 October 2023, he was named by English newspaper The Guardian as one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide, alongside Palmeiras teammates Endrick and Vitor Reis. ^[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 9 November 2024 ^[21]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State league [a]		National cup [b]		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Palmeiras	2023	Série A	19	0	—		5	0	—		3 [c]	0	—		27	0
	2024		5	0	6	0	1	0	—		5 [c]	1	1 [d]	0	18	1
	Total		24	0	6	0	6	0	—		8	1	1	0	45	1
West Ham United	2024–25	Premier League	2	0	—		0	0	0	0	—		—		2	0
Career total			26	0	6	0	6	0	0	0	8	1	1	0	47	1

1. Includes Campeonato Paulista
2. Includes Copa do Brasil
3. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
4. Appearance in Supercopa do Brasil

Honours

Palmeiras

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2023
• Campeonato Paulista: 2024
• Supercopa do Brasil runner-up: 2024

Brazil U20

• U-20 South American Championship: 2023

References

1. "Luis Guilherme". CBF . Retrieved 14 February 2024.
2. "Destaque no sub-17, Luis Guilherme assina contrato profissional com o Palmeiras" [Highlight in the sub-17, Luis Guilherme signs a professional contract with Palmeiras]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
3. Zito, Felipe (4 July 2022). "Corre, Luis Guilherme: garoto com velocidade de Mbappé empolga o Palmeiras" [Run, Luis Guilherme: boy with Mbappé speed excites Palmeiras]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 16 December 2022.
4. Toth, Henrique (25 January 2023). "Veja por onde andam os campeões da Copinha pelo Palmeiras em 2022" (in Portuguese). ge. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
5. Ferri, Thiago (2 November 2023). "Palmeiras anuncia renovação do contrato de Luis Guilherme; multa é de R$ 289,5 milhões" (in Portuguese). ge. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
6. "Do choro no teste à estreia: como Luis Guilherme se preparou para o profissional do Palmeiras" [From crying on trials to the debut: how Luis Guilherme prepared himself to the first team of Palmeiras] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
7. Valladares, José Manuel (25 April 2024). "Juveniles Endrick y Luis Guilherme guían remontada de Palmeiras ante Independiente del Valle" (in Spanish). AP News.
8. "Luis Guilherme: Brazil teenager set to have West Ham medical". BBC Sport. 9 June 2024.
9. "West Ham United sign exciting Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme". www.whufc.com. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
10. "Four-star Hammers dazzle in Ipswich victory". West Ham United F.C. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
11. "Campeões em Montaigu, Luís Guilherme e Pedrinho querem repetir dose na Seleção Sub-20" (in Portuguese). CBF. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
12. "Luis Guilherme é convocado pela Seleção sub-20 e não joga mais a Copinha pelo Palmeiras" (in Portuguese). ge. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
13. "Luis Guilherme é convocado pela Seleção Brasileira e disputará Sul-Americano Sub-20" (in Portuguese). Palmeiras Official Site. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
14. "Joia do Palmeiras e mais jovem da Seleção sub-20 no século, Luis Guilherme projeta torneio ao L!" (in Portuguese). Lance!. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
15. "Saiba os planos do Palmeiras para dupla campeã do Sul-Americano Sub-20 com a Seleção" (in Portuguese). ge. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
16. "Luis Guilherme e Kaique retornam ao Palmeiras após título do Sul-Americano Sub-20" (in Portuguese). OneFootball. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
17. "Corre, Luis Guilherme: garoto com velocidade de Mbappé empolga o Palmeiras" [Run, Luis Guilherme: boy with Mbappé's speed excites Palmeiras]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
18. "Conheça Luis Guilherme, goleador de 15 anos que se inspira em Messi e já jogou pelo sub-20 do Palmeiras" [Meet Luis Guilherme, a 15-year-old goalscorer who is inspired by Messi and has played for Palmeiras under-20s]. ge.globo.com (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
19. "Luis Guilherme, the first interview". www.whufc.com. West Ham official website. 14 June 2024. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
20. Christenson, Marcus; Bloor, Steven; Blight, Garry (11 October 2023). "Next Generation 2023: 60 of the best young talents in world football". theguardian.com. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
21. Luis Guilherme at Soccerway. Retrieved 16 April 2023.