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Loan Watch returns for its latest instalment with centre-back Vitor Reis the focus this week. The Brazilian youngster moved to Manchester City last January as part of the club’s winter recruitment drive.
The Cityzens were incredibly active in the market 12 months ago in order to boost their dwindling campaign. Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, Reis and Juma Bah all made the move to the Etihad Stadium. The latter was loaned to Lens in order to ease Khusanov’s move to Manchester.
Reis, meanwhile, struggled for minutes under Pep Guardiola. A loan move was the logical solution for the centre-back, who was sent to fellow City Football Group side Girona. The Spanish outfit lost Ladislav Krejci to Wolves, so were in need of another centre-back.
Reis shining despite Girona struggles
As a result, the 20-year-old is garnering the regular game time required to help realise his potential. Deployed alongside veteran Daley Blind, Reis has the experienced partner to help develop his game. And while Girona aren’t performing brilliantly - they 15th in La Liga, six points above the relegation zone following their 1-1 draw with Levante last week - Reis is one player shining for Michel’s men.
Michel is a manager who has been linked with the City job when Guardiola does leave the club. So it makes sense that Reis has been operating in a way that would suit City’s current style of play.
Girona don’t exactly dominate teams. They rank 11th for possession (49.4%) in La Liga this season. However, Reis does all he can to ensure the Spanish side are not overwhelmed by opponents. The Brazilian has the best pass success rate (90.9%) for Girona in La Liga this season. Only Blind (71.7) is averaging more passes per 90 (54.4) for the White and Reds.
Distribution will have impressed City
Considering the importance of ball-playing centre-backs in Guardiola’s side, this ability to pick out a teammate with relative ease is key. The defenders are expected to instigate attacks from the backs. Marc Guehi (616) and Ruben Dias (519) rank among the top 10 centre-backs for forward passes in the Premier League this season, though the former’s numbers are skewed by his Crystal Palace stint.
Unsurprisingly, Reis ranks second for forward passes (438) of outfielders for Girona in the 2025-26 La Liga campaign. With the desire to get the ball into the midfield to help swarm opponents, Reis carries out these duties effectively. He’d do so to a much higher standard in a side that sees more of the ball and looks to quickly transition from defence to attack.
Girona, after all, have only scored two counter-attacking goals in La Liga this season. By comparison, no team has scored more than City (9) in England’s top tier this term.
Reis putting his body on the line
Defensively, he’s shown a willingness to put his body on the line in order to ease pressure on the Girona goal. This in itself has been key. Girona rank fourth for shots conceded per game (15.2) in the 2025-26 La Liga season. Only three teams have conceded more goals than Michel’s team (43) in Spain’s top tier this term.
Reis is working hard to keep both numbers down, evident in that no player has blocked more shots (31) than the on-loan defender, while only three players have made more clearances (156).
One of Reis’ primary strengths this season, however, has been his overall availability. Indeed, he’s registered 2238 minutes of league action this season, more than any other Girona player and the 10th most of any outfield player in La Liga.
Availability a strength
City have endured their fair share of injury woes. Josko Gvardiol is currently sidelined, while Ruben Dias, John Stones and Nathen Ake have all endured their own absences. The main reason behind the decision to recall Max Alleyne from his loan spell with Watford in January was due to injuries to both Gvardiol and Dias.
Reis, though, has shown he can be available for selection for the bulk of the season. Given City’s injury-hit backline, this quality won’t be lost on the Premier League powerhouse.
The frequency of City’s defensive reshuffles hasn’t aided their push for silverware. It’s seen seven players start at centre-back for the club this season. The reliability to Reis’ availability, even if he is suspended this weekend, will be key for Guardiola’s side in the coming campaign. With both Ake and Stones set to depart in the summer, Reis should, in theory, step in to fill the void.
While Girona haven’t excelled, Reis certainly has. The style of play under Michel has suited the centre-back’s skillset. With the additional game time to learn the tricks of the trade in one of Europe’s top leagues, he should return to the Etihad ready to play a more prominent role for 2026-27.
Read the other instalments of Loan Watch below
Loan Watch: Evan Ferguson’s Roma Dream Fading After Injury Blow and Malen Surge
Loan Watch: Tottenham Starlet Mikey Moore Shines at Rangers as Spurs Weigh Summer Decision
Loan Watch: Is Luka Vuskovic Ready for Tottenham After Hamburg Breakthrough in the Bundesliga?
