Manchester City to integrate £30 million centre-back into Pep Guardiola’s first-team for 2026/27 | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola is expected to welcome Vitor Reis into his first-team squad at Manchester City on a permanent, long-term basis from the start of 2026/27.

The 19-year-old Brazilian has been on Manchester City’s radar as a future cornerstone of the club’s defensive rebuild since his £29.6 million transfer from Palmeiras in January 2025.

Despite joining midway through last season, Reis was limited to brief senior appearances before being sent on loan to Girona in August – a move viewed internally as a strategic step to accelerate his adaptation to European football and the tactical demands of the club.

Reis’ spell in Spain has since attracted considerable attention, with City seeing clear signs of progress in both his physical and tactical development. The young centre-back, known for his composure in possession and aerial strength, has been playing regular La Liga football under Girona – an environment that mirrors City’s own playing philosophy.

Manchester City’s decision to loan Reis to Girona rather than another European club was deliberate, continuing the club’s long-standing practice of using CFG sides to fine-tune young prospects for eventual Etihad Stadium integration.

Now, according to a new report from ESPN Brazil – as translated and relayed by Sport Witness – Vitor Reis is already being viewed as a future pillar of Pep Guardiola’s defensive unit by those within the Etihad Stadium.

It is revealed that Manchester City review the Brazilian’s progress every five matches at Girona, with the current plan being to bring him back for the start of the 2026/27 season, emphasising exactly why potential suitors were turned down over the last few months.

The report states that both Bayern Munich and FC Porto tried to sign Vitor Reis earlier in the year but Manchester City refused, instead wanting to keep him within the City Football Group for easier communication and control.

On the national team front, the report claims that Reis is also catching the attention of Carlo Ancelotti and his assistants ahead of November friendlies against Senegal and Tunisia, while the defender’s entourage believe he could fight for a place at the 2026 World Cup.

For Manchester City, the prospect of integrating Reis next season aligns with Pep Guardiola’s gradual reshaping of his defensive core. With John Stones’ future still in doubt and Manuel Akanji’s long-term future expected to lie with Inter Milan, Reis’ development timeline appears perfectly timed.

Should Reis continue his rise at Girona, his move to the Etihad Stadium on a long-term permanent basis could mirror that of Savinho – who impressed in Catalonia before earning a squad role at Manchester City.

Given the defender’s rapid trajectory and growing international recognition, his 2026/27 integration could come with genuine expectations of regular first-team minutes rather than developmental cameos.