The summer before last, I wrote an article here at NUFCBlog when centre back Dean Huijsen was set to join Bournemouth for around a measly £13 million.
I expressed how I thought Newcastle were making a mistake not signing a player with such high potential at such a low price.
As we all know, Huijsen proved himself to be an extraordinary signing, and has since signed for Real Madrid in a £60 million deal, and is now an almost ever-present for the Spanish giants. Once again, over 18 months later, I think Bournemouth have signed a miraculous young player that Newcastle really should be targeting.
Bournemouth have struck a £30 million pound deal (£25m plus £5m in potential add-ons) to sign Vasco da Gama forward Rayan, in order to replace the outgoing Antoine Semenyo, now at Man City.
The 19 year old forward, who can play on either flank and through the middle, had an absolutely exceptional 2025 over in Brazil, bagging 20 goals in 57 games in all competitions. At 6ft 1, he has a strong physical presence that will be vital in the Premier League, and as a youngster he was renowned in Brazil for scoring over 280 goals for Vascos youth teams by the age of 11.
Given what I know about him, I am absolutely bewildered as to how he is going for the relatively low fee Bournemouth appear to be signing him for.
For a brief moment last month, it appeared as though my arm chair scouting dreams might be coming to life as rumours were circulating that Newcastle were interested in a late move for the young Brazilian. Unfortunately, my joy was incredibly short lived, with Eddie Howe immediately shutting down all rumours linking us to Rayan insisting that there is “No truth to that.”
I know funds were allegedly very limited this winter, and defensive reinforcements may have been the main priority had the right player emerged. However, in a world where Will Osula is known to have clubs interested in paying a similar fee for his services, and the club insistent on not selling unimpactful players such as Joe Willock, I find it absolutely bewildering that we are not moving some pieces around the board to sign such a superstar at such a sensationally low price given the standards of today’s standards.
I’m not claiming Rayan is the next Neymar, nor do I think he is going to instantly become one of the best players in the Premier League, but I do believe that Rayan will provide Bournemouth with a much larger return than the £30 million that they are about to pay for him, and I believe we will see him playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world in the coming years.
Infact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we are linked with Rayan in the next couple of years once/if he does prove himself in the Premier League, with his Cherries career starting impressively as he came off the bench last weekend and immediately bagged himself an assist in an eye-catching cameo.
Only time will tell how good this lad actually turns out to be, And it appears Eddie Howe had no genuine interest in the player to begin with anyways. I just hope that this time I’m wrong, and this isn’t another mistake Newcastle live to rue amid a sea of transfer mistakes in recent years.
Inmejorable debut de Rayan Vitor (Río de Janeiro, 2006) con el Bournemouth. Un lugar idóneo para dar sus primeros pasos en Europa.pic.twitter.com/OtmYXANIUS
— Rodrigo González Pascual (@RGlezPascual00) February 1, 2026
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