MANCHESTER: Man­chester City have signed defender Vitor Reis from Brazilian Serie A side Palmeiras on a four-and-a-half-year contract, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

City, who are fifth in the league, also completed the signing of Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khus­anov from French club RC Lens on Monday to further strengthen their squad.

The 19-year-old Reis joins for a fee British media reports said was 29.6 million pounds ($36.20 million) from Palmeiras, who were reluctant to part with Reis, as they hoped to have him available for this year’s Club World Cup.

“Reis is one of the most promising young defenders in the world and we’re delighted to been able to bring him here,” City’s Director of Football Txiki Begiristain said in a club statement.

“In his short time in senior football in Brazil, he has shown he has the ability to go very far in the game and we know that working with Pep and our coaches will help to get the best out of him.”

A Brazil under-17 international, Reis has made 18 league appearances for Palmeiras and is considered a key component of City manager Pep Guardiola’s vision to reshape the squad.

Reis called the move the biggest challenge of his car­eer but said when the kno­ck on the door came and it was City, there “wasn’t anywhere else to go”.

“Everyone has seen the amazing achievements in recent seasons, and I want to make my mark as we seek more trophies,” Reis said.

“Working with Guar­diola is something every young player wants to do, and I know he can help me to develop into the best player I can be.”

Reis will line up alongside fellow promising youngster Khusanov, 20, who completed a 33.6 million pounds move as part of the team’s transition to a new generation.

“This squad is full of the best players in the world and I can’t wait to meet them and play alongside them,” said Khusanov, who has 18 international caps.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2025

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