The numbers speak for themselves and place Vitor Reis in a category that few young defenders reach this early. The 19-year-old Girona center-back ranks among the top three under-20 players in the world for aerial duels, according to data from the CIES Soccer Observatory. His 95.6% success rate in the air isn’t just an impressive stat, it’s a sign that European soccer is beginning to see the Brazilian not as a promise, but as a player already capable of competing at a high level.
A defender who combines skill and maturity
Since arriving at Girona on loan from Manchester City, Vitor Reis has taken on a leading role naturally. He earned his place in the first match of the season and hasn’t left the starting lineup since. His only absence came through suspension, a mark of consistency for someone so young. The Brazilian has become a key piece in Míchel’s system. His performance goes beyond aerial dominance. Vitor has been dribbled past only once in 11 matches this season, proof of his positional sense and game reading well beyond his years. He doesn’t rely on desperation tackles, he anticipates, reads plays, and reacts at the right time.
The CIES report only confirms what’s been obvious on the field. Across 66 leagues analyzed, Vitor appears alongside names like Rufai Mohammed of IFK Värnamo and Luka Vuscokic of Hamburg, players known for mixing physical strength with sharp decision-making, the hallmarks of the modern defender.
An example of a new generation
Vitor’s path helps explain the new approach to player development in Brazilian soccer. The defender came through Palmeiras and was sold to Manchester City at the start of 2025 for 35 million euros. His loan to Girona, another club within the same group, was part of a plan to speed up his adaptation to Europe. And it worked. Within months, he became a starter, a defensive reference, and one of the under-20 players with the most minutes in La Liga, ahead of talents like Arda Güler, Mastantuono, and Lamine Yamal.
His growth shows something beyond talent. Vitor combines discipline with an advanced understanding of his surroundings, something rare in a 19-year-old. He reads the game like few others and brings calm to the back line.
In the end, the biggest winner might be Manchester City. The club sees its young defender gaining value match after match, maturing in a competitive, structured environment. City doesn’t need to rush the process; the more he grows at Girona, the higher his market value and experience climb. It’s the kind of investment that pays off not just in numbers but in development. If he keeps up this pace, it won’t be long before he’s wearing the blue shirt in Manchester.