Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a highly-rated Brazilian youngster who could be available for around £20 million in the January transfer window.
Villa are one of a handful of English clubs credited with a liking for Vasco da Gama forward Rayan, who has apparently been identified as a legitimate target by the club’s recruitment team.
Other possible destinations include Real Betis, Porto and Fiorentina, and, according to reporting by ESPN Brazil, Vasco have already declined offers for the 19-year-old.
The report from Brazil indicates that Villa are in the market for ‘a winger with finishing ability’ and their quest has pushed them towards Rayan, who’s been frequently linked with a move away from Vasco for as long as he’s been active in the first team.
Rayan has also attracted the interest of Al Hilal and Al Nassr, two of the Saudi Pro League clubs majority owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, but the player himself is reportedly more in favour of a switch to a club in Europe.
ESPN indicates that Vasco are preparing for life without their top young talent and are open to negotiating with clubs regarding a January departure. Rayan apparently has a release clause in the region of £37 million but a more manageable asking price of around £26 million.
According to some sources cited by ESPN, the youngster could be available for even less than that.
The Rio de Janeiro-born forward signed a contract extension in April, taking his deal to the end of the calendar year 2026, putting him very much in the shop window for the next two transfer windows.
Premier League rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have also been linked with Rayan, who is now playing with former Villa attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho.
Primarily a winger but also a player capable of leading the line as a central striker, Rayan is a Vasco da Gama academy product and is already playing in his second full season for the club.
Rayan has played in 85 matches in all competitions, scoring 11 league goals for the boyhood club he joined as long ago as 2012.
The teenager has been a regular starter this season, contributing nine of those league goals in 2025. Vasco finished in mid-table in 2024 but Rayan helped them reach the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil in each of the last two seasons and they could yet go further this term.
Rayan has won 11 caps for Brazil’s Under-20 team and was part of the squad that won the South American Under-20 Championship.
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