In a significant January transfer window move, AFC Bournemouth has completed the signing of Brazilian forward Rayan from Vasco da Gama, securing the highly-rated 19-year-old on a five-and-a-half-year contract.
The Premier League club has paid an initial £24.7 million for the transfer, with the deal containing a further £5.6 million in potential add-ons, making it Bournemouth’s joint-second biggest signing in history.
The acquisition is a direct response to the recent departure of star attacker Antoine Semenyo to Manchester City and comes during a period when manager Andoni Iraola’s squad has been hampered by injuries in the forward line.
Rayan, who will wear the number 37 shirt, arrives with a burgeoning reputation following a breakout 2025 season in Brazil where he scored 20 goals in 57 appearances across all competitions for Vasco da Gama.
Club officials expressed their considerable excitement about the long-term prospect. “Rayan is a player we have followed closely and who has already shown impressive consistency and maturity for his age,” said Bournemouth’s president of football operations, Tiago Pinto.
“We believe he has enormous potential, and Bournemouth is the right environment for him to continue his development and make an impact. I’m pleased that he chose our project as the one he committed to and we’re very excited to have him as part of our team”.
For his part, Rayan emphasized the appeal of Bournemouth’s project in his development. “I am very happy and very honoured to be here, especially with the sporting project they developed for me,” the teenager stated.
“It’s a club that develops a lot of talents, so I’m very happy to be here and hope to give the fans a lot of joy”. His move to the south coast of England was his preferred choice, having turned down interest from several other European clubs as well as sides from Saudi Arabia and Russia.
The young Brazilian’s journey to the Premier League is deeply rooted in the iconic Vasco da Gama club, which he joined at the age of six. Football runs in his family; his father, Valkmar, was a defender for Vasco in the late 1990s.
Rayan’s prodigious talent was evident early, and by the age of eleven, he had already scored 280 goals in the club’s youth setup, drawing attention from European giants like Barcelona.
South American football expert Tim Vickery notes that Rayan consulted with his experienced Vasco teammate Philippe Coutinho before making the move, leaning on the advice of the former Liverpool star who understands the pathway from Brazil to England.
Rayan is described as a powerful, left-footed striker who has evolved from playing on the right wing into a more central role. He is a physical presence who can overpower defenders and possesses a powerful finish, having grown up idolizing Cristiano Ronaldo.
However, his former coach at Vasco, Fernando Diniz, expressed some reservations about the timing of the transfer, suggesting the player might benefit from another year in Brazil. “I think he is running a risk by moving now. I hope he does well there, but I am convinced that the best thing for Rayan would have been to stay here for another year, and then be more ready to make a move,” Diniz said.
Despite this, Rayan and Bournemouth are confident in their project, with the club having a strong record of developing and enhancing players’ careers.
Bournemouth confirmed another signing on the same day, bringing in Greek international goalkeeper Christos Mandas on loan from Lazio with an option to buy.
Yet, it is the arrival of Rayan that captures the imagination, as the Cherries secure one of South America’s most promising attacking talents to bolster their squad for the present and future.