Who is Vitor Reis? Manchester City’s Newest Defender’s Career Stats, Analysis & Playing Style

Vitor de Oliveira Nunes dos Reis is a young defender on the books at Manchester City currently. The 19-year-old Brazilian was signed by the English Champions in the winter transfer window. They hope he could develop into a leader of defence and help rebuild Pep Guardiola’s new empire at the Etihad Stadium.

Vitor Reis is a right-footed defender. He enjoys playing as a centre-back primarily. But he could also play as a right-back. His performances in his native Brazil were getting rave reviews from experts and fans alike. He lived up to his expectations and now embarked on an adventurous journey.

The Premier League is challenging and can be quite harsh on youngsters. Reis nonetheless got a great chance to learn from a legendary coach. He has all the resources available at his disposal to develop into a world-class defender. That said, we will profile the wonder kid.

The Rise of Vitor Reis: Profile, Career, and Future Prospects

Vitor Reis is a throwback defender with his defending style. However, he has the tools of a modern-day defender too with his proficiency on the ball. These traits combined with his 6’1 presence make him a towering defender. He could either play in a back three or a back four.

Reis became a regular in the Palmeiras squad after having a successful youth career with them. He captained Palmeiras at the youth level showcasing his leadership qualities as well. This helped him amass 22 senior appearances after making his debut in a short span.

He also became a regular for the Brazilian youth sides and captained them. Palmeiras’ talents become increasingly hard to keep once they get fame. It was a similar case for Vitor Reis as Manchester City set their sights on him.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were the 5^th oldest side in the Premier League today. The defending champions had a torrid season and wanted to strengthen their defence. They were very active in the winter window as they had a mini overhaul. Vitor Reis was signed for £29.6 million in January 2025. He is not expected to be a quick fix for their troubles. But the hope is he will become a starter in the future seasons.

Reis tasted action in England for the first time as he made his debut in the FA Cup against Leyton Orient.

Early Life and Background

Vitor Reis comes from a humble background. He was born in the Santana area of Sao Jose dos Campos city of Sao Paulo state. He started playing football at a young age and was a natural with the ball at his feet.

His mother Ana Maria recollected his first coach wanted him to be a centre-back when he was seven. She added Reis always wanted to be a defender and his coach’s words had a lasting impact on him becoming a centre-back.

The role of his parents in Reis’ journey cannot be undermined. According to Sampaio, Palmeiras’ academy executive, they played a key role in shaping his career. Sampaio was impressed by how he used to travel 200 kilometres every day by car to reach the training centre in Guarulhos.

His parents used to drive him to the training centre in the rush hour and he would do his schoolwork in the car. Through the traffic and tiredness, he used to cover his school learnings after the sessions. This continued for years till Reis turned 15 and joined Palmeiras Academy’s dormitory.

All these incidents toughened Reis’ resolve to become a professional player and made him a mentally strong player.

Vitor Reis Club career, Trophies and Stats

Reis joined Brazilian ex-footballer Robinho’s R10 academy as a youngster. It was ironic as Robinho was one of Manchester City’s first signings in the Sheikh Mansour era. His academy became a school for one of their future players. After gaining enough skills at a tender age, Reis quickly leapt to one of the region’s biggest sides in  Palmeiras at age 10.

Vitor Reis used to travel to and fro from the centre till he became eligible to join the academy. Once he joined the academy as a 16-year-old, he was increasingly involved in youth sides and went on to play home and away games.

Reis established himself as a key player and captained the youth sides. He was part of multiple Under-17 Championships and Cups in 2022 and 2023. His quick progress prompted the coach to throw him into the first team.

Reis made his first-team debut for Palmeiras in the Serie A as a substitute on 26^th June 2024. He started the game against rivals Corinthians and netted his first senior goal in the league. Regular starts followed him and he took them like a seasoned pro. Reis ended the campaign with 22 appearances and 2 goals in all competitions.

He sealed a dream move to Manchester City in the winter of 2025. He took the route of Gabriel Jesus by moving to Manchester City directly from Palmeiras.

Key Moments and Achievements

Vitor Reis was the captain of Palmeiras teams that won youth tournaments. His leadership quality and his skill made him the skipper of the national side as well. He earned three 3 caps at the under-16 level. Reis was immediately promoted to the under-17 level and captained Brazil at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup.

He scored in the game against New Caledonia at the tournament as Brazil lost in quarters to rivals Argentina.

One of the crucial moments in Vitor Reis’ life took place in the finals of the Copa do Brasil Sub-17. Reis who was captaining his side collided with a Vasco da Gama player and suffered a concussion. He fell unconscious for a while before waking up. He was rushed to the hospital where he recovered admirably.

One of the best achievements of Vitor Reis is being named one of the best players born in 2006 worldwide. In the list made by the English newspaper The Guardian, he found a place alongside then-teammates Endrick and Luis Guilherme.

Another excellent ode to his rise was confirmed by his inclusion in the Brazilian Serie A Team of the Year. He was named by the experts panel in the prestigious Trofeu Mesa Redonda in just his first professional season.

Manchester City would be hoping he would emulate these feats in England soon.

Vitor Reis Scout Report

Vitor Reis is a lanky defender. Standing at 6 foot 1 inches, he is a duel winner in the air. Reis registered 2.9 duels per 90 in the Brazilian Serie A. This would put him in the top 10 among Premier League defenders this campaign.

Even on the ground, he does well to crouch and dive into challenges. His anticipation and positioning always place him in good positions to cover dangerous attacks.

He is by no means a finished product in England. A few would argue he is built too lean for the English game. Vitor Reis needs to put on a lot of muscle to shrug off the imposing quick and strong forwards he will be facing in the English league.

Thankfully, he knows what is in store for him. He faced England’s under-17 team at the World Cup in 2023 and knows what to expect from them. At Manchester City he will run into them as colleagues as Matty Warhursy, Joel Ndala and Justin Oboavwoduo all played against him.

Vitor Reis Playing Style and Strengths

Vitor Reis in an interview with Manchester City said he idolises Brazilian and PSG defender Marquinhos. The defender has a profound impact on Reis’ game. But in reality, according to South American football expert Tim Vickery, he is closer to another Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.

Reis just like Thiago Silva, could play in a back 3 or a back 4. Even though he is right-footed, he could play on the left as a centre-back comfortably. The ability to play anywhere makes him a much-valued asset to Pep Guardiola.

His aerial dominance helps Manchester City in both the boxes as he scored both his club career goals from setpieces with his head.

Reis’ off-the-ball exploits are well known but his on-the-ball skills are a bit underplayed by everyone. A signing handpicked by Pep Guardiola must have elite levels of technique and Reis is no exception.

Reis is a volume passer and would not shy away from asking for the ball and being a part of the buildup. These are qualities that Guardiola would appreciate. He had 43.7 successful passes per game for Palmeiras in the previous season. He had an excellent 89.2% accuracy making him an efficient part of playing out from the back.

Vitor Reis’ EA FC Rating

Vitor Reis is yet to receive a card in the popular video game EA FC. The game’s developers are often at loggerheads with the Brazilian Serie A clubs and go with generic players at times along with clubs.

However, a move to Manchester City will certainly mean he would debut in the game in the upcoming edition or possibly an upcoming update. We expect Vitor Reis to be a Silver Rare Card with a rating between 70-75.

Vitor Reis Net Worth & Salary

The race for Vitor Reis was heating up as top clubs across Europe were queuing up. Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid were rumoured to be in for him. Manchester City acted the quickest of the lot as they made a surprise swoop in winter instead of waiting for summer. This helped them sign Reis for a cheaper price.

Manchester City is known for hefty wage bills and paying their players handsomely. Though his contract details are currently unknown, we expect Reis to be earning a five-figure salary every week. This would surely pump his net worth into millions by the end of the year.  

Conclusion

Vitor Reis is a highly rated defender. Everyone back in his native Brazil would be rooting for his success. He is currently at the best club in the world to develop without any pressure. He knows that he isn’t signed for the short term well. He can develop at his own pace and earn a place at the heart of the Blues defence for years to come.

He can become the next best defender from Palmeiras’ academy and emulate the feats of Roberto Carlos and Cafu. If he can grow physically into a bigger and stronger centre-back, his club and country will be set for the next decade.