Report: Vasco da Gama sells Douglas Luiz to Manchester City for £11M

Vasco da Gama, one of the most important clubs in Rio de Janeiro, reportedly shipped away a teenage phenom.

According to Globo Esporte, Douglas Luiz left Vasco da Gama for Manchester City on Tuesday afternoon, as the Brazilian defensive midfielder, only 19 years old, was sold to the Citizens for R$ 45.5 million (approximately £11 million), a transfer fee that marks the most expensive sale in the Gigante's rich history.

Per ESPN FC's Jonathan Smith, who values the transfer at £10 million instead, Douglas is set to complete the move to the Etihad Stadium this week and head out on loan to Girona FC in Spain. The South American teenager represented Brazil at the Sudamericano Sub 20, where the Selecao failed to qualify for the Under-20 World Cup, in humiliating fashion. The youngster allegedly attracted the attention of City's scouts but is not thought to be ready for the Citizens' first team and will likely spend at least one year in the waters of Spanish football.

Douglas, who debuted for Vasco da Gama in 2016, holds 11 appearances to his name in this year's Brasileirao, including a game in which he scored a 91st-minute winner as the Gigante beat Sport Club do Recife.

Assuming Douglas played his last game for Vasco da Gama, he is leaving the Gigante with a total of 39 appearances.