Luis Guilherme thriving at Sporting after West Ham struggles

Luis Guilherme’s early weeks at Sporting have already eclipsed his entire spell at West Ham, with Portuguese media highlighting how quickly the winger has rebuilt momentum after leaving London.

The 20-year-old has matched his West Ham minutes total in just five appearances for Sporting, underlining how dramatically his role has changed since January.

According to analysis in Portugal, Luis Guilherme arrived in Lisbon with just 121 minutes played in his final 18 months at West Ham United. Five games later at Sporting CP, he already totals 297 minutes, exactly the same number he managed across his Premier League spell.

That contrast has become a focal point in the Portuguese press, illustrating how rapidly his situation has turned around since leaving England. Regular selection and defined responsibilities have replaced the stop-start involvement that marked his time in London.

A major psychological barrier fell in midweek when Guilherme scored in Sporting’s Portuguese Cup quarter-final win over Aves SAD. The strike ended a goal drought that had stretched close to two years.

Portuguese outlet A Bola described the moment as symbolic. Limited minutes had shaped Guilherme’s recent career, particularly at West Ham, where rhythm and confidence were difficult to establish. In Lisbon, that narrative is already shifting.

Beyond the goal, Guilherme’s overall display stood out. Operating on the right flank, he completed 34 of 37 passes, beat his man three times and won four of five duels. The Portuguese media noted his willingness to take on defenders and his growing decisiveness in the final third.

Those numbers contrast sharply with his time in England, where he managed just 297 Premier League minutes and 327 minutes across all competitions. The lack of continuity there stalled his development at a critical stage.

At Sporting, the winger is benefiting from consistent opportunities and a clearer tactical role. Reports also point to visible progress in his understanding of the collective game, something that was harder to nurture during his limited exposure at West Ham.

From the Premier League club’s perspective, the January sale now carries clearer context. Rather than waiting for development that had failed to materialise in London, West Ham opted to move on. Early signs in Portugal suggest the environment, not the talent, was the missing piece.

Sporting are expected to continue integrating Guilherme steadily, with more starts likely as fixtures pile up. The coming weeks will determine whether his early impact translates into sustained output, but the initial signs suggest the winger has found a platform better suited to his growth.

Was Luis Guilherme always ready for more responsibility, or did West Ham miss the right moment to unlock his potential?