Rayan Vitor (foto: Uradni FB/TW/IG profil igralca)
Bournemouth is close to signing Vasco da Gama striker Rayan Vitor for €35m, making him one of the biggest transfers in Brazilian football history and the club’s planned replacement for Antoine Semenyo.
Bournemouth are on the verge of completing one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history, with Rayan Vitor set to arrive from Vasco da Gama in a deal worth around €35 million.
If finalised, the transfer will become Vasco da Gama’s most expensive sale ever and Bournemouth’s second most expensive signing, behind only Evanilson, who joined from Porto for €37 million.
The 18-year-old striker has been identified by Bournemouth’s sporting director Tiago Pinto as the ideal long-term replacement for Antoine Semenyo, who left the club earlier this window to join Manchester City.
Vasco da Gama initially wanted to keep their star forward until the summer, hoping he could boost his value further by breaking into the Brazil national team ahead of the World Cup. The club reportedly set an asking price of €50 million.
However, Rayan’s clear desire to move to the Premier League proved decisive. According to English media, Bournemouth convinced the player with a project that includes an important role from day one, and the striker is expected to sign a contract running until 2031.
Rayan enjoyed a breakthrough season last year, scoring 20 goals in 54 matches in all competitions. In the Brazilian league, only Vitor Roque, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, and Kaio Jorge recorded better attacking efficiency.
His combination of physical power, pace and finishing has made him one of the most sought-after young forwards in South America — and one of the most expensive Brazilian exports of his generation.
Brazilian talents are increasingly choosing England as their first step into European football. The Premier League has gained a clear advantage in this market in recent years, highlighted by the move of Willian Estêvão from Palmeiras to Chelsea.
Other young Brazilian prospects who have taken the same path include João Gomes, Vitor Reis, Jair Cunha and Luís Guilherme, who has since moved from West Ham to Sporting.
If completed, Rayan Vitor’s transfer would once again confirm the Premier League’s status as the preferred destination for Brazil’s next generation of stars.