Lucas Paquetá has been cleared by the regulatory commission in England and is free to sign with Flamengo or Manchester City

The Times reports the Brazilian star is cleared of betting charges and can return to action

Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá has been cleared by an independent regulatory commission in England, according to The Times. The decision allows the West Ham player to resume his professional career, putting an end to nearly a year of legal uncertainty stemming from sports betting allegations.

Yellow Card Investigation Ends in Clearance

Paquetá had been under investigation for allegedly forcing yellow cards in four West Ham matches between 2022 and 2023 a serious breach of FA Rule E5, which governs match-fixing and betting-related misconduct.

Had the commission ruled against him, Paquetá faced a potential ban from professional football. However, The Times reports that the midfielder was exonerated after a thorough review and will officially be cleared to play as of next week.

Transfer Market Twist: Paquetá Back on the Radar

Now that the legal cloud has lifted, Paquetá’s future is wide open and two clubs are reportedly back in the picture:

• Manchester City: Pep Guardiola had expressed strong interest in signing the Brazilian before the charges surfaced. With the player’s name cleared, City could reignite negotiations with West Ham.
• Flamengo: The Rio de Janeiro club, where Paquetá rose to stardom, had previously explored bringing him back on loan especially if he were banned in Europe. But now that he’s cleared, a return would require a full transfer, making the operation more complicated.

Contract Status and Price Tag

Lucas Paquetá, now 27 years old, is under contract with West Ham until June 2027. The London club is reportedly asking for €40 million (approx. R$261 million) to release him.

While Flamengo fans flooded social media with the hashtag #FreePaqueta, celebrating his clearance, the financial demands could put a permanent transfer out of reach for now unless the club negotiates a favorable deal or a creative structure.