Brighton have built a strong reputation for their transfer strategy in recent years, identifying young South American talents and nurturing them into Premier League stars.
Their latest target is 18-year-old Vitor Reis, a central defender from Palmeiras. Reports suggest Brighton have submitted four bids so far for the teenager, with the latest being worth £23.5m.
Palmeiras value him at £25m but are reluctant to sell the highly-rated prospect who has already caught the attention of many other top European sides due to his performances in Brazil.
Embed from Getty ImagesHis rise through the Brazilian league has been rapid and at just 18, he has already made his mark at Palmeiras, contributing to their league and cup victories in 2023.
Defensively, Reis dominates in one versus one’s and in a high pressing system. Last season, on a per 90 basis, he ranked in the top 10% of defenders in the league for dribblers tackled.
He also ranked in the top 16% for tackles made in the final third, highlighting his aggression in the press.
Under Fabian Hurzeler, Brighton’s approach requires defenders to be composed in possession and urgent out of it. His aggression without the ball already seems to be a perfect fit.
Embed from Getty ImagesIn terms of his composure, that’s fantastic too. Reis is a ball-playing defender who likes to start attacks from the back. According to FBREF, last season in the league, he had a pass completion rate of 89.2% and an 100% successful take on rate.
The most stark stat of all though was this: Reis was not dispossessed once throughout the entirety of the 2024 Serie A season.
If Reis joins the Seagulls, he would bring brilliance to the back line once fully adapted. He would add more composure, defensive solidity and clever build-up play to Hurzeler’s side.
Reis is no doubt an excellent long-term investment for the club and could be a key figure as Brighton begin rebuilding their back line as current leaders such as Lewis Dunk and Joel Veltman approach the latter end of their careers.
Embed from Getty ImagesWritten by Isabelle Newnham
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