Vitor Reis ‘increasingly closer’ to Manchester City exit as club-to-club agreement nears | OneFootball

Manchester City are close to finalising a season-long loan agreement for highly-rated central defender Vitor Reis this summer, according to new reports.

The 19-year-old joined City from Palmeiras in January in a deal worth £29.6 million, and while he is regarded as a long-term prospect for the Premier League giants, the upcoming season is expected to be spent elsewhere to facilitate his development.

With Manchester City well-stocked in the centre-back department – boasting names such as Rúben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Aké, and Manuel Akanji – there is currently little room for Reis to earn consistent first-team minutes at the Etihad Stadium in 2025/26.

Reis has already been the subject of interest from several clubs this summer, having reportedly requested a loan move away from the club in hopes of gaining playing time and boosting his Brazil national team credentials.

The likes of FC Porto and Bayer Leverkusen were reportedly among the clubs to express concrete interest, but Manchester City have always viewed a move within the City Football Group – and specifically to Girona – as the most fitting destination.

Girona, who have enjoyed strong recent collaborations with City via the loans of players such as Yan Couto, are expected to give Reis the kind of high-level experience required to firmly transition into top-tier European football, while a move to the La Liga outfit would also ensure that his development remains aligned with City’s playing philosophy.

Now, according to the information of journalist Nil Solà, the positions of Manchester City, Vitor Reis, and Girona are said to be getting ‘increasingly closer’ towards a loan agreement for the Brazilian defender across the 2025/26 season.

Talks and interest have been present for a number of weeks, the report makes clear, and will now need to be finalised in the coming days.

This latest update comes after recent stories surrounding Reis’ future, including our previous coverage of Girona’s ambition to secure a double deal for both Reis and Argentine playmaker Claudio Echeverri.

Manchester City’s strategy has remained clear throughout in finding a competitive and controlled environment where Vitor Reis can develop through consistent playing time, preferably in a system reflective of their own tactical demands.

Should the Girona deal be finalised, it would mark another successful use of CFG’s internal network to facilitate the development of future first-team candidates. Reis would join a Girona side competing in La Liga, offering a much-needed test at the highest level.

From City’s perspective, a loan to Girona would also ensure direct oversight of the player’s progress while avoiding the complications that can come with sending top talents to external clubs. Contractually, City are expected to retain full control over Reis’ future, with no buy options involved – consistent with their long-term view of the player as a key asset for seasons to come.