Vitor Reis bids farewell to teammates at Palmeiras Training Center and will undergo medical exams at Manchester City

The young center-back Vitor Reis, only 19 years old, officially bid farewell to his teammates at Palmeiras’ Football Academy this Tuesday. The player is about to travel to England, where he will undergo medical exams at Manchester City, which has already secured his signing in a deal that makes it the most expensive transfer for a center-back in Brazilian football history. With values around 35 million euros (approximately R$ 217 million), the deal marks an important chapter in the recent history of the São Paulo club and reinforces Palmeiras’ ability to produce great talents for world football.

Vitor Reis did not participate in field activities during his last visit to Palmeiras’ training center. His presence was solely to say goodbye to the squad, coaching staff, and club employees. The athlete, who started in Palmeiras’ youth categories at the age of 10, leaves the team after standing out as one of the most promising center-backs in the country. His move to Manchester City indicates the growth and appreciation of young Brazilian talents in the European market.

The transfer sets a new record in the national market, surpassing the sale of Lucas Beraldo, a center-back from São Paulo, to Paris Saint-Germain at the end of 2023. The deal highlights the relevance of Brazilian football in producing high-level defenders and its increasing presence in the international scenario.

Vitor Reis se despede de companheiros no CT do Palmeiras e fará exames no Manchester City

Jogador de 19 se tornará a transferência mais cara da história de um zagueiro no futebol brasileiro ⬇️ https://t.co/ukI35c0HUU

— ge (@geglobo) January 14, 2025

A promise that became reality: Vitor Reis’ trajectory at Palmeiras

Vitor Reis, a native of São Paulo, built his career from an early age at Palmeiras. At the age of 10, the boy joined the club’s youth categories and quickly gained prominence for his leadership and defensive solidity. His evolution was closely followed by coaches, who saw in him the potential to become one of the great center-backs in Brazilian football.

The promotion to the professional squad happened in 2024 when he was only 18 years old. In the main team, the center-back played 22 matches and scored two goals, one of them against Corinthians, in one of the most important derbies of the year. His performance on the field caught the attention of European clubs, especially Manchester City, which had been monitoring the player for a few months.

Accelerated negotiations to secure the young talent

Manchester City’s interest in Vitor Reis began to intensify in December 2024 when the English club made its first official offer to Palmeiras. Initially, the Brazilian team wanted to keep the player until the Club World Cup, scheduled for June 2025, but the English insisted on an immediate transfer, leading to a quick agreement.

After some negotiation rounds, the parties agreed on a fixed value of 35 million euros, considered a landmark for national football. Palmeiras’ president, Leila Pereira, highlighted that the deal is important both financially and sportively for the club, allowing new investments in the squad and youth categories.

Values that mark Brazilian football

Vitor Reis’ departure sets a significant record for a defender in Brazil. Check out some of the main sales of Brazilian center-backs abroad:

• Lucas Beraldo (São Paulo to PSG) – 20 million euros
• Gabriel Magalhães (Lille to Arsenal) – 26 million euros
• Eder Militão (Porto to Real Madrid) – 50 million euros
• Vitor Reis (Palmeiras to Manchester City) – 35 million euros

With this transaction, Palmeiras demonstrates its ability to produce players that attract the interest of major European clubs. Vitor Reis’ sale joins other significant transfers in the club’s history, such as Gabriel Jesus and Endrick, who also moved to top European teams.

Impact on Palmeiras’ squad

Vitor Reis’ departure leaves an important gap in Palmeiras’ defense. However, the club already has quality alternatives to fill the young center-back’s absence. Captain Gustavo Gómez, who recently renewed his contract until 2027, is one of the team’s defensive pillars and should take on even more responsibility in the backline.

Additionally, the club continues to invest in youth categories to develop new talents. In recent years, Palmeiras has consolidated itself as one of the leading talent-producing powerhouses in Brazil, contributing to the team’s financial and sporting strength.

Manchester City’s expectations with the new signing

At Manchester City, expectations are high for Vitor Reis to become one of the team’s defensive pillars in the future. Led by Pep Guardiola, the English team believes that the young center-back has the potential to stand out in the Premier League and add quality to the defensive system.

Currently, City faces challenges in the national competition, sitting in sixth place on the table, 12 points behind leader Liverpool. With the arrival of reinforcements like Vitor Reis, the club aims to improve its performance in the second half of the season.

Market movements: other City reinforcements

Besides Vitor Reis’ signing, Manchester City is also close to sealing deals with two other players:

• Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt) – 60 million euros
• Abdukodir Khusanov (Lens) – 33 million euros

These acquisitions reinforce the club’s strategy of investing in young talents to renew and strengthen its squad for upcoming seasons.

Curiosities about the biggest transfers in Brazilian football

1. Gabriel Jesus was sold by Palmeiras to Manchester City for 32 million euros in 2016.
2. Endrick, a promising youth player from Palmeiras, was transferred to Real Madrid for 60 million euros in 2022.
3. Neymar made history with the highest transfer ever, moving from Barcelona to PSG for 222 million euros.

Key dates in Vitor Reis’ negotiations

• December 2024: Manchester City presents an official offer to Palmeiras.
• January 2025: Palmeiras rejects the initial offer but keeps discussions ongoing.
• January 13, 2025: Leila Pereira confirms the deal is close to completion.
• January 14, 2025: Vitor Reis bids farewell to the squad at Palmeiras’ Football Academy.

Challenges for Vitor Reis in European football

Adapting to European football is one of the main challenges for Brazilian players who arrive in the Premier League. In Vitor Reis’ case, the expectation is that he will use the solid foundation acquired at Palmeiras to face the intensity and competitiveness of the English championship.

The presence of other Brazilians in Manchester City’s squad can ease this transition. Players like Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, who have already undergone the adaptation process, can serve as references and support for the young center-back.