West Brom player closing in on £5m transfer to Brazilian giants | OneFootball

The West Bromwich Albion winger Mikey Johnston is reportedly on the brink of a "life-changing" move to the Brazilian giants Flamengo.

It's being reported that the West Bromwich Albion winger Mikey Johnston could be on the brink of what's been described as a "life-changing" move to join Brazilian giants Flamengo.

Flamengo have just been eliminated from the 2025 Club World Cup in the Round of 16 stage, after losing 4-2 to Bayern Munich in Miami, but their involvement in this tournament hasn't prevented them from acting in the transfer market, and have made a surprise swoop Baggies winger Johnston.

Albion are under new management, with Ryan Mason having assumed the head coach position in June.

They are undergoing a rebuild of their own in order to improve on last season's performance, when they tailed off from the play-off places before finishing 9th in the table.

Mikey Johnston on the verge of surprise Flamengo transfer

The Express & Star's Lewis Cox has reported that the Brazilian club Flamengo are nearing a deal to sign Mikey Johnston, which has come somewhat out of the club.

It is claimed that a £5 million package has been agreed, and that this will turn Albion a profit on the reported £3 million that they paid Celtic for him at the end of the summer 2024 transfer window, after he impressed on a half-season loan spell with them during 2023-24.

This wouldn't be the first time that Johnston has made an adventurous move in order to progress his career.

Prior to moving to The Hawthorns, he'd also spent half a season on loan in Portugal with Vitória de Guimarães whilst a Celtic player - this move though will take him much more further afield and into South America.

Flamengo are Brazilian football royalty and an incredible opportunity for Johnston

That Johnston's head should have been turned by the opportunity to go to Flamengo is not surprising.

At this summer's Club World Cup, the Brazilian outfit topped their group with seven points out of nine, including a sensational 3-1 win against Chelsea, before elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich.

This club is Brazilian club football royalty. They've won the Copa Libertadores - the South American equivalent to the Champions League - three times, and the Brazilian Serie A on eight occasions. They are the club of such legendary players as Zico, Leonidas and Dida, and they currently play their home matches at one of the most famous stadiums in the world, the Maracana.

For many players, the opportunity to play at such a club would represent an incredible opportunity, and this move also allows West Brom to profit, at a time when the costs of not paying enough attention to your finances are becoming increasingly evident at other clubs.