West Brom winger Mikey Johnston has been left frustrated after a £5m move to Flamengo collapsed at the final hurdle.
The deal was scrapped by the Brazilian club over last-minute concerns, not from fans as reported yesterday, but regarding his long-term fitness, despite a contract and travel plans already being in place.
Medical Concerns End Brazilian Switch
Johnston had been set to join Flamengo on a four-year contract worth around £1.2m per year—nearly double his current salary at West Bromwich Albion. The transfer had been agreed between the clubs, with the Championship side prepared to sell for a fixed £5m fee plus add-ons.
The 25-year-old had even booked a flight to Rio de Janeiro, with his arrival scheduled for 5am local time on Tuesday. However, the deal was cancelled following a late intervention from Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista.
According to Brazilian journalist Venê Casagrande, Flamengo’s medical team advised that Johnston would likely only be available for 1,800 minutes per season—less than half the threshold required for reliable short-term contributors. That led Baptista to veto the transfer, despite the club’s earlier commitment.
The sudden reversal has reportedly left Johnston uncomfortable and disheartened, especially after such advanced negotiations. With the pre-season in full swing, the winger now returns to The Hawthorns facing an uncertain future.
The former Celtic man spent the 2024/25 season on loan at West Brom and joined permanently in the summer. He made an impression with his attacking flair, but the collapse of the Flamengo deal now leaves both player and club needing to reassess their options.
Writer’s View
This will be a bitter pill to swallow for Mikey Johnston, whose career trajectory looked set for an exciting new chapter in Brazil. A move to Flamengo would have offered both financial reward and a fresh platform in a high-profile league, but the concerns over durability clearly spooked the club’s hierarchy. For West Brom, it’s a complicated setback. They now hold a player who was essentially out the door, and they must decide whether to reintegrate him into Carlos Corberán’s plans or pursue another sale.
Either way, this could unsettle the squad’s balance ahead of a pivotal Championship campaign. If Johnston remains fit and motivated, he may yet have a big role to play—but the saga has added an unwelcome distraction just weeks before the season kicks off.
