The classy centre-back is still only 19, but the English champions clearly believe he can be a cornerstone piece of their evolving defence
Does any club in world football presently have a more productive youth sector than Palmeiras? Endrick had only turned 16 just two months before becoming the club's youngest-ever debutant in October 2022. By the turn of the year, he'd been snapped up by Real Madrid for €47.5 million (£40m/$52m).
Then, in the space of nine days in June of last year, West Ham paid £19m ($25m) for 18-year-old Luis Guilherme before Chelsea agreed a £28m ($37m) deal to sign 17-year-old Estevao Willian in the summer of 2025.
However, while Estevao is being made to wait before arriving at Stamford Bridge, another Palmeiras product has found his way to England, with Manchester City having secured the signature of 19-year-old defender Vitor Reis, who has been previously linked with Arsenal and, almost inevitably, Madrid, who have become specialists at stockpiling Brazil's best young players.
So, who is the latest gem to come out of the Allianz Parque? Below, GOAL tells you everything you need to know about City's new £30m ($36m) signing Reis, who is already drawing comparisons to some Selecao stars…
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Where it all began
Reis started out at the R10 Academy, which was set up by former Brazil international Robinho, before being picked up by Palmeiras in 2016 when he was still only 10 years of age. The young centre-back progressed quickly through the Sao Paulo side's youth-team ranks, regularly lining out alongside the likes of Endrick, Guilherme and Estevao, and impressed with not only his defensive play but his leadership qualities.
He signed his first professional contract with Palmeiras in November 2022, after a stellar season with the club's Under-17s in which they won the 'triple crown' (Copa do Brasil, the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro).
"I have been at this club since 2016 and it has become my home," he wrote on Instagram. "I have experienced incredible moments and I will remain focused on bringing more joy to the Palmeiras family and working to take the next steps forward in my career."
AdvertisementThe big break
Having already captained both Palmeiras and Brazil at Under-17 level, Reis was considered a star in the making at the Allianz Parque and widely expected to make his debut during the 2024 Brasileiro Serie A season.
After training regularly with the first team, he made his professional debut as a late substitute in a 3-0 loss at Fortaleza on June 26. Reis only featured for the final 15 minutes, but coach Abel Ferreira was already suitably impressed by the youngster's ability and composure, and, with Palmeiras still shorn of a number of first-team regulars, including captain Gustavo Gomez, who was away on international duty with Paraguay at the Copa America, he named the teenager in his starting line-up for a home game against Corinthians the following week.
Reis excelled alongside another academy product in Kaiky Naves at the heart of the Palmeiras defence, and capped a Man-of-the-Match-winning performance with a headed goal from a Raphael Veiga corner to seal a 2-0 victory.
“Unbelievable!" he beamed afterwards. "I'll tell this story for the rest of my life!"
Getty Images SportHow it's going
Reis' progress was somewhat checked by a minor muscular problem that sidelined him for a few weeks in September. However, he eventually regained his starting spot for the conclusion of the 2024 campaign and ended up making 18 league appearances in total during his first season at senior level.
Consequently, Palmeiras moved quickly to extend his contract to December 2028 and increase his buyout clause to €100m (£84m/$110m). Having been widely lauded as a shining light within the best backline in Brazil, many pundits believe it is only a matter of time before he becomes a key player for the national team, too.
Biggest strengths
For one so young, Reis is already quite an accomplished and very vocal defender. He's quick and agile, but what stands about his play is just how well he reads the game. He never seems to get caught out of position and has a great range of passing.
He also already looks like a future Brazil captain, given the way in which he both inspires and organises those around him. Encouragingly, he's also fully aware that he's far from the finished article.
"I listen a lot to what the senior players say," he revealed. "And my family are always giving me loads of advice." In short, he's a talented young man with a good head on his shoulders.
