Flamengo defender Fabricio Bruno will be West Ham’s first signing of the summer transfer window, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.
Posting on X last night, Romano revealed that the Hammers will pay €12m (£10.2m) upfront and another €1.5m (£1.3m) in add-ons for the 28-year-old:
🚨⚒️ Fabrício Bruno to West Ham, here we go! Verbal agreement now in place between West Ham and Flamengo for 28 year old centre back.
Exclusive details: €12m fixed fee plus €1.5m add-ons.
Brazilian CB will be first signing for Lopetegui at #WHUFC. 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/WheZeliAtB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 27, 2024
Bruno has been heavily linked with a move to the London Stadium over the last week, with reports in his native Brazil suggesting that he will say goodbye to Flamengo fans when his team face Millonarios in the Copa Libertadores on Tuesday night.
What do fans need to know about Bruno?
The Brazilian is a centre-back by trade but he has never played outside of South America, having had spells with Cruzeiro, Red Bull Bragantino and Flamengo.
Saying that, though, Bruno is a pretty experienced player, having made 268 appearances in his professional career. He was also given his first two caps by Brazil at senior level against England and Spain back in March.
West Ham are poised for a very busy summer
It is believed that the Irons could recruit anywhere between six and eight players over the next few months. One of the main reasons for that is the number of expected departures.
Angelo Ogbonna and Ben Johnson will both leave on free transfers, while the likes of captain Kurt Zouma, Nayef Aguerd and Danny Ings could also be sold. Reinforcing the club’s options in defence and attack will, therefore, be a top priority for technical director Tim Steidten.
