Vitor Reis transfer: Man City sign defender from Palmeiras in £29.6m transfer

January 21, 2025

Reis, who has represented Brazil U17s, has made 18 league appearances for Palmeiras since coming through the club’s academy.

Sky Sports News reported a number of clubs – including Brighton – had gathered information on the 19-year-old.

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Palmeiras were always relaxed over the situation after selling an array of talent into Europe in the past 18 months for big fees, including Endrick to Real Madrid and Willian Estevao to Chelsea.

Reis says signing for City was driven by wanting to play under Pep Guardiola.

He said: “I’m excited to join Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world. Everyone has seen the amazing achievements in recent seasons and I want to make my mark as we seek more trophies.

“Working with Pep Guardiola is something every young player wants to do and I know he can help me to develop into the best player I can be.

“City also have a lot of experience of working with Brazilian footballers and joining the likes of Ederson and Savinho in the squad will be a big help to me.”

Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Vitor Reis is one of the most promising young defenders in the world and we’re delighted to been able to bring him here.

“In his short time in senior football in Brazil, he has shown he has the ability to go very far in the game and we know that working with Pep and our coaches will help to get the best out of him.

“He is excellent on the ball and outstanding in the air – he has all the attributes needed to be one of the best. Vitor is very young, but his quality is so high that we believe he can help us now and for a long time into the future.”

Reis ‘not Premier League ready yet’

South American football expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports News:

“This is City pushing the reset button. They have seen three things that they really like about this player.

“You can see the influence of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva – that is the centre-back he wants to be. Classy on the ball, head up and can play out the back.

“Versatile defensively, he can operate in a back three or four. Happier on the right but has played on the left. The other thing is leadership qualities and those are the things City have identified.

“I don’t think he’s anywhere near Premier League ready at the moment. He’s classy but he needs to fill out physically. If you were to put him in the Premier League at the moment, he would really be bullied.”

Marmoush undergoing City medical

Meanwhile, Omar Marmoush is undergoing a medical with City on Tuesday and the Eintracht Frankfurt forward is set to sign a contract until 2030.

Marmoush, who can operate across the front three, has scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga this season, just one behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who sits top of the rankings with 16.