How Manchester City Beat Arsenal to Vitor Reis Signing for £29.4m

Arsenal’s Hesitation Allowed City to Secure Palmeiras’ Rising Star

Manchester City successfully completed a £29.4m transfer for Vitor Reis, surpassing Arsenal in the race for the highly-rated Brazilian defender. Despite Arsenal’s extensive scouting and early interest, their hesitation allowed City to act swiftly and finalize the deal.

Arsenal Identified Reis as a Key Target

Arsenal had been closely monitoring Vitor Reis for months, sending scouts to watch him in action as early as November. At that time, he was considered their most likely defensive signing. The club also showed interest in Sverre Nypan, another emerging talent, but ultimately failed to secure either player.

The situation changed when Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus suffered injuries. This shift in priorities led Arsenal to reconsider how they allocated their transfer budget, causing delays in negotiations for Reis. Instead, they turned their attention to signing a striker, but those efforts also fell short.

Manchester City’s Quick Move Secured the Transfer

While Arsenal debated their options, Manchester City moved decisively. They completed the signing of Reis on January 21, making him part of their £170m squad reinforcement strategy. The transfer was a long-term investment, with City ensuring they did not miss out on one of Brazil’s most promising young defenders.

Arsenal, on the other hand, attempted a late move for Ollie Watkins, but their bid was rejected. Other striker targets, including Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, and Dusan Vlahovic, were deemed unattainable either due to high costs or the unwillingness of their clubs to sell mid-season.

Did Arsenal Miss a Big Opportunity?

With no new signings in January, Arsenal will rely on their current squad depth for the remainder of the season. The decision to delay signing Reis could prove costly, especially in a competitive title race.

What do you think? Should Arsenal have moved faster to sign Vitor Reis? Will their lack of reinforcements hurt their chances this season? Share your thoughts in the comments.