Only Almada cost more in Brazil
©IMAGO
While things never really went well at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, striker Paulinho has recently found happiness in his native Brazil. The 24-year-old has contributed 50 goals and twelve assists to Clube Atlético Mineiro since leaving the Werkself for a free transfer in 2023. Now he is moving from Belo Horizonte to Palmeiras São Paulo and almost cost a league record fee.
According to consistent media reports, Palmeiras will pay 18 million euros for Paulinho, only half a million less than Bayer paid in 2018 for the then top talent Vasco da Gama. This makes the winger the twelve-time champion’s most expensive addition, CA Mineiro’s second most expensive departure and the second most expensive player ever to move to a Brazilian first division club.
Only world champion Thiago Almada (23) was even more expensive at 19.5 million euros when he transferred from Atlanta United to Botafogo in the summer. Flamengo also paid 18 million for midfielder Carlos Alcaraz (22) in August.
