With the opening of the January 2025 transfer window, there is the chance of more players coming into the Premier League from South America.
Latin American football expert Tim Vickery takes a look at a few who could cross the Atlantic this month.
Igor Jesus (Brazil)
Club: Botafogo | Age: 23
One of the stories of 2024, and an illustration of how excellent scouting has helped Botafogo become champions of Brazil and of South America just three years after they were in the second division.
A few months ago Jesus was a relative unknown, making a living in the United Arab Emirates and under pressure to naturalise and play for the local national team. Botafogo signed him on a free transfer, he made his debut for the club late in July and by mid-October he was Brazil’s first-choice centre-forward.
Jesus looks the complete package. Strong and mobile, he can hold the ball up back to goal but also run in behind to receive it in the channels. He can be involved in the build-up and also score in the air and off the ground.
True, the goals dried up by the end of 2024. But as the relentless calendar took its toll, there were plenty of big games where Botafogo had to graft and sweat, such as the final of the Copa Libertadores, where they had a man sent off after 30 seconds. Such adverse circumstances gave Jesus the chance to show that he is prepared to get behind the ball and put in a defensive shift.
He was so impressive last year that there has inevitably been interest in signing him, with local media reports suggesting that West Ham United had appeared at the front of the queue.
Vitor Reis (Brazil)
Club: Palmeiras | Age: 18
Brighton & Hove Albion, who have a great record of scouting in South America, have reportedly made a big offer for this centre-back, who turns 19 on 12 January.
The south coast club will find two obstacles. One is that Palmeiras are not under pressure to sell, and want to Reis for the FIFA Club World Cup in the middle of the year. The other is that there are plenty of other clubs chasing the signature of this classy defender, with clear leadership potential who had a successful introduction to first-team football in 2024.
Anyway, it is possible that a move at this stage might prove premature. Defenders tend to mature later, and in the case of Reis he possibly needs to fill out physically before he is ready to do battle with Premier League strikers.
File this one, then, under the heading of “one for the future”. That future, however, looks bright if he can continue to develop his composed tackling and distribution from the back.
Diego Leon (Paraguay)
Club: Cerro Porteno | Age: 17
An attacking left-back who made a big impression in the second half of 2024. Leon only made his senior debut for Cerro Porteno in August, and by September was already being linked with Premier League clubs. Arsenal were the first who were reported to be interested, with Manchester United apparently taking the lead since then.
A strapping lad with pace and strength, Leon made a goalscoring debut and, coached by Francisco Arce, an excellent attacking full-back in his time, has demonstrated a capacity to supply crosses and also to break into the box at the far post.
He may well be trying to forget a spectacular long-range own goal against Sportivo Luqueno, but he can chalk that down to inexperience. And, too young to move in January, he can pick up more experience at home in the next few months, both in the Paraguayan league and in the Copa Libertadores.
Keny Arroyo (Ecuador)
Club: Independiente del Valle | Age: 18
If Arroyo is not on the radar of Premier League clubs, then he certainly should be. His club boast a fine recent record of youth development, having produced both Moises Caicedo and Kendry Paez, the teenage wonder who will join Chelsea in the summer.
Arroyo is this year’s find. He went into 2024 with one senior appearance to his name and ended it coming off the bench in a couple of FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Ecuador head coach Sebastian Beccacce called him up to be part of a sparring team to train against the senior side, and he did so well that he was instantly promoted.
An incisive winger who is strong, quick and skilful, Arroyo is left-footed and most often used cutting in from the right. Another season of consolidation might be preferable, but it is hard to see him staying long in Ecuador.
Richard Rios (Colombia)
Club: Palmeiras | Age: 24
This midfielder was discovered playing a futsal tournament in Brazil, converted to the 11-a-side code and after a couple of clubs and an injury-hit spell in Mexico, made his name in 2023 with the Palmeiras team that won the Brazilian league. As a consequence, Rios forced his way into the Colombia side and, if anything, has been even more effective for country than for club.
A rangy figure, he has excelled as a member of Colombia’s disciplined central midfield trio, snapping in with tackles to win the ball, and in possession showing a sound range of passing plus the capacity to come up with the unexpected. A fierce shot means that he has a goal in him, too.
Rios is a late developer, and by the standards of the contemporary market he may be a little old for a move to Europe. He has, however, been attracting Premier League interest, and may be in a hurry to force a move.
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