Flamengo pull the plug on £5m signing after fan backlash | OneFootball

Flamengo pull the plug on £5m signing after fan backlash | OneFootball

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·7 July 2025

Flamengo pull the plug on £5m signing after fan backlash

Article image:Flamengo pull the plug on £5m signing after fan backlash

Flamengo have decided to withdraw from negotiations with West Bromwich Albion for Irish winger Mikey Johnston, reversing what had been a nearly completed transfer, according to Lance. The move, expected to bring Johnston to Rio this week for a fee close to £5 million, was abruptly cancelled after a surge of negative response among supporters and heightened scrutiny inside the club.

Johnston, who made 41 appearances—25 as a starter—for West Bromwich last season, contributing three goals and five assists, was set to become Flamengo’s first reinforcement of the transfer window. Initial agreement had been reached between the player and the club, and flights had been arranged for his arrival. However, once details of the potential transfer became public, online criticism from the Flamengo fan base quickly intensified, focusing on both the player’s suitability and the proposed financial outlay.


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The internal response was equally cautious. Senior figures within the club’s management structure questioned the value of the signing, especially with recent memories of underwhelming transfer activity—Juninho’s arrival from Qarabag was cited as a parallel. The financial commitment of £5 million (about R$37 million) for a player perceived as likely to be a depth option rather than a definitive starter was viewed as difficult to justify.

Further hesitation stemmed from concerns about Johnston’s injury history, though his last notable absence was an ankle problem back in May 2022. Despite the club’s sporting department believing Johnston could provide squad competition for Filipe Luís’ group, with the potential to bolster the wide attacking positions, doubt persisted regarding his potential impact relative to existing players such as Michael, Everton Cebolinha, Luiz Araújo, and Gonzalo Plata.

Following these developments, Flamengo’s top leadership, including president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, faced pressure from club council members and influential administrative voices to reconsider. Ultimately, the club decided to cancel Johnston’s flight and end the pursuit. Flamengo justified the withdrawal, in part, with a report from the medical department highlighting injury concerns, though this was only one element in a broader reassessment sparked by public and internal skepticism.

Flamengo now turn their attention to alternative targets to strengthen the attack. Interest remains in Jorge Carrascal of Dynamo Moscow, while the club also manages approaches from European clubs for their current stars.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

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