Luis Guilherme: Meet the Palmeiras wonderkid already wanted by Bayern and Chelsea

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Over the last few years, Palmeiras have developed several players, who the club then sold for significant fees to Europe. Here are a few examples? Danilo was sold for €20 million to Nottingham Forest, Gabriel Jesus for €32m to Manchester City, and then there is wonderkid Endrick, who will join Real Madrid next summer in a deal worth up to €60m. But in Luis Guilherme, the next top talent is already in the pipeline. In fact, the 17-year-old has already been heavily linked with a move to Bayern Munich andChelsea.

Luis Guilherme was born in Eastern Brazil, more specifically in Aracaju, the capital of Brazilian state of Sergipe. Born in 2006, Luis Guilherme impressed at the futsal and football fields located throughout the city and it wouldn’t be long until Palmeiras scouts discovered the talent. Aged 11, he moved 2,000km from home to São Paulo to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional footballer. Also making the move was his mother, who gave up her job as a cashier to help her son and his older brother fulfill their dreams of becoming professional football players.

At the start of the year, Luis Guilherme managed the jump to the first team. Since then, the attacking player has managed 27 appearances, but only four from the start. He is also yet to be involved in a goal. Indeed, Luis Guilherme’s ascendancy isn’t as spectacular as that of teammate Endrick. Nonetheless, the potential of the U20 Brazilian national team player appears to be immense.

“Luis Guilherme highlights the success of Palmeiras’ youth academy,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Brazil Marcos Watts said. “Only 17, he is already capable of being influential as a no.10 in Brazil’s Série A and is also capable of playing as a winger. He is one of Brazil’s biggest talents.”

According to Watts, Luis Guilherme has the potential to be a similar player to 2002 World Cup winner and Palmeiras legend Rivaldo. “He is very fast—both physically but also mentally—and has an excellent left foot,” Watts said. “If he keeps developing along the same path, then he is more than capable of becoming a top player in Europe. I think there is a chance he could become the future no.10 of the Seleção.”

Indeed, Palmeiras know what they have in their talent and signed Luis Guilherme to a new contract that will run until 2026 at the beginning of November. That contract includes an exit clause worth €55m. Once triggered, the clause would make the teenager would become one of the most expensive exports of the Série A. Right now, his market value is €17m, and only four U17 players around the world have a higher market value.

European top clubs are already interested in Luis Guilherme. In October, the Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola reported on his YouTube channel that Bayern Munich and Chelsea have seen bids in the region of €35m turned down by Palmeiras. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano then reported that both clubs are yet to bid for the player but are certainly interested. Either way, Luis Guilherme is a candidate for a big transfer. In February, he will turn 18, which, according to FIFA regulations, would open the door for a transfer to Europe.

From December 1 to 24, we introduce new players from different countries born in 2006 and 2007. Area managers, users, and data scouts come into play as experts throughout the series. You can follow all those players by adding them to your TM watchlist.