Mikey Johnston (foto: Getty Images)
Mikey Johnston is on the verge of a historic transfer to Flamengo. If completed, he’ll become the first Irishman to play in Brazil’s Serie A.
Mikey Johnston is reportedly on the brink of completing one of the most surprising transfers of the summer—a move from England’s Championship to Brazilian giants Flamengo.
Multiple sources claim the 26-year-old Irish international has said goodbye to his West Bromwich Albion teammates and is en route to Rio de Janeiro to finalise the deal. Flamengo are expected to pay around €7 million for the winger, who joined West Brom from Celtic last year in a €5 million deal.
If the move goes through, Johnston will become the first Irish player in history to feature in Brazil’s top flight. His diverse footballing journey has already taken him from Scotland to Portugal—he spent a season at Vitória Guimarães, where he likely picked up some Portuguese, a language that will now prove useful at Flamengo.
Johnston, who represented Scotland at youth level before switching allegiance to Ireland, had a solid season in the Championship and has earned praise for his technical skill and attacking flair. His bold move to Brazil is already being called one of the most unpredictable transfers of the window.
Flamengo, managed by former Chelsea left-back Luís Filipe, are a club with global ambitions. They played in the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year, where they were knocked out by Bayern Munich.
Should the deal be finalised, Johnston will not only make history—but also step into one of the most passionate football environments in the world.