West Ham flop’s brutal admission shows Koppen is major upgrade on Steidten

Former West Ham United winger Luis Guilherme admitted in an interview with O Jogo that he initially expected his spell in England to last only six months due to cultural and intensity challenges. The Brazilian signed from Palmeiras for around £20m in 2024 but struggled to adapt, failing to register a goal or an assist across 18 appearances before departing for Sporting in January 2026.

Damien Charles Lucas argues that Guilherme's admission highlights the flawed transfer strategy under former director Tim Steidten, which contributed to West Ham's relegation. Lucas contends that current recruitment head Nils Koppen provides a significant upgrade through a more diligent, data-led hybrid approach aimed at guiding the club back to the Premier League.