adminWest Ham are signing a ‘ferocious’ striker more lethal than Erling Haaland and Harry Kane
Watching clips of Pablo in action in Portugal, one thing becomes immediately clear: West Ham United’s prospective new No.9 possesses an impressive variety of finishes.
During the 2025/26 season, the Gil Vicente striker scored 10 goals in just 12 Primeira Liga starts, with his first three coming off his supposedly weaker left foot. That ability to strike confidently with either boot has become a defining trait of his game.
Pablo often faces up defenders, shapes to shoot, then subtly shifts the ball before unleashing an effort on goal. Whether attacking from his stronger side or carving out space on his left, the 21-year-old has a predator’s instinct — always alert, always hunting for an opening.
West Ham are now expected to complete a deal worth around £17.5 million for the Braga-born forward. Former teammate Felix Correia has already described him as an “exceptional” talent, while Gil Vicente boss César Peixoto believes his pace and mobility will translate seamlessly to the Premier League.
Comparisons with former Chelsea star Diego Costa have only heightened the excitement — and the data backs it up.
Despite concerns over his lack of top-level experience and whether he can handle the pressure of a relegation fight, the numbers suggest West Ham may be landing one of Europe’s most clinical young forwards.
Statistically, Pablo outperforms even Erling Haaland and Harry Kane in terms of finishing efficiency. His ability to create half a yard and strike quickly with either foot mirrors the prime version of Diego Costa, who famously scored 52 Premier League goals in just 89 appearances.
If Pablo can replicate even a portion of that output in east London, the long-standing narrative of West Ham’s striker struggles could finally be put to rest.
“He’s been described to me as a Diego Costa-type centre-forward,” journalist Duncan Castles said on the Transfer Window podcast. “Strong, powerful, and a real project player.
Some people I’ve spoken to do wonder, though, whether West Ham is the right environment for his first move to a high-pressure elite league.”
Those concerns are understandable. With AC Milan finalising Niclas Füllkrug’s arrival and West Ham also linked with Lazio’s Taty Castellanos, the club’s history with misfiring forwards has once again come under scrutiny.
What separates Pablo from his predecessors, however, is his ruthless efficiency. According to Data MB and FBref, he ranks in the 99th percentile for goal conversion and the 94th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.69). His 10 league goals have come from an expected goals figure of just 5.6.
Incredibly, he has scored more than half of his goals from just 18 shots inside the penalty area — a level of efficiency that places him ahead of Haaland (90th percentile) and Kane (96th).
For comparison, Callum Wilson sits in the 79th percentile, while West Ham’s current top scorer Jarrod Bowen ranks at 53.
Peixoto has also praised Pablo’s work ethic, likening it once again to Diego Costa’s relentless style.
“He has fantastic quality,” Peixoto told Mais Futebol. “But what really stands out is how hard he works without the ball. He’s vital in the press and gives everything for the team.”
That work rate, combined with technical brilliance, was perfectly illustrated by a stunning goal he scored for Famalicão in the UEFA Youth League in 2023 — cutting inside, holding off a defender, and curling a sensational strike into the top corner.
It was the kind of goal even elite strikers only manage occasionally.
Now, with numbers that surpass Haaland, Kane, Wilson and Bowen, Pablo could quickly make himself a cult hero at the London Stadium — simply by doing the basics with ruthless efficiency.
As Portuguese football outlet PortuGoal put it:
“Pablo has a gift for spectacular, technically demanding goals. He combines explosive finishing with excellent close control and tireless pressing.
His movement and physical presence allow him to dominate defensive lines, making him one of Liga Portugal’s standout young forwards.”
admin
