Whatever the reason, impressive performances on the training field from Luis Guilherme have not translated into actual Premier League minutes yet under Nuno Espirito Santo at West Ham United.
In truth, the Brazilian’s best chance to really make his mark may have already passed him by.
After Nuno lost Niclas Fullkrug to yet another injury, the West Ham United boss opted to start without a recognised centre-forward in those successive defeats by Leeds and Brentford. The prospect of Jarrod Bowen starting up top, then, left the door ajar for Luis Guilherme to come into contention.
But now, with Callum Wilson fully fit again, Bowen a nailed-on starter on the right and as Crysencio Summerville repays Nuno’s faith on the left, it is hard to see where Guilherme’s chance is going to come from. Presuming that he will get a chance on Nuno Espirito Santo’s watch, that is.
According to Brazilian publication Trivela, Guilherme’s camp are starting to lose faith. A return to Brazil is not currently on the cards for the ex-Palmeiras starlet, but there is interest in Europe with Feyenoord and Porto among those linked.
Trivela add that Guilherme’s representatives plan to find him a new home as early as January. Failing that, next summer.
The strangest thing about this whole situation is that, whenever clips of Guilherme appear on social media or YouTube, the 19-year-old appears to be a bundle of jogo bonito brilliance.
West Ham United fans love Luis Guilherme training ground footage
After the opening weeks of 2025/26 were interrupted by a shoulder injury, Luis Guilherme looked extremely sharp at Rush Green this time last month. Nuno used the October international break as an opportunity to take a closer look at the club’s fringe players and youngsters.
Four weeks later, with Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, El Hadji Malick Diouf and co away from the training ground, it was once again extremely easy to spot Guilherme strutting his stuff behind the scenes in East London.
How could you miss him?
Max Kilman, nutmegged at least once by Guilherme in a high-octane passing drill, knows all too well just how unpredictable the teenager can be at close quarters. Yet, all that raw talent has translated only into 193 minutes of Premier League football.
53 of those have come this season, and none yet under Nuno.
“Guilherme is class. Need to see more of him. He needs some game time,” one fan wrote in response to another training ground video full of fancy flicks and darting runs from their seldom-seen Brazilian.
“Agree,” another writes. “Should give him minutes to allow Bowen some rest. Bowen is becoming England’s first choice right-winger. Try and make the same impact with fresh legs, as Kyle Walker-Peters and [Tomas] Soucek have.”
Supporters wonder if Guilherme could thrive as a wing-back during AFCON
Nuno made a point about using West Ham’s squad to its fullest after Walker-Peters and Soucek both scored off the bench against Burnley. The versatile full-back showed remarkable determination to react to a loose ball quicker than the onrushing Bowen, slamming in from close range.
“KWP and Bowen were both willing to kill to see that ball go in. Would love to see that determination from Luis G for 20 mins on the right. Also, I’d be looking at him and ‘KWP’ as wing-backs during AFCON. Guilherme is 19! A cracking talent. [Mateus] Fernandes, 21. [Soungoutou] Magassa, 22. Feels like we have talented players now from top to bottom.”
“That is Guilherme’s best position, especially as fresh legs,” another fan writes, also highlighting Guilherme’s potential as a rampaging wing-back. “Think his profile suits left wing-back.”
Luis Guilherme relished the chance to establish himself as a wing-back during the pre-season tour of the USA, with one particularly eye-catching cameo in a 2-1 victory over Everton.
Hammers News can reveal that West Ham are concerned about losing Diouf and Wan-Bissaka to the African Cup of Nations in early-2026. Walker-Peters and the injured Ollie Scarles are the club’s only other natural full-back options.
Should Nuno continue to overlook him, though, one suspects that the Hammers fans would prefer to see Guilherme loaned out – perhaps to a Porto or a Feyenoord – to give him the first-team minutes he so clearly needs.
“He is still young. But, from what I’ve seen of him so far, he really has that un-coachable raw talent. His movement and ability to cut in is unreal. Super quick. He made Bowen and [Mohammed] Kudus look slow.”
“He’s so overdue an assist or goal. I hope he comes good and stays!”
“Guilherme is solid. Needs a chance.”
“Guilherme is a strange one. Literally, no opinion on him. Need to see him actually play.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
