Vinicius Souza, known as Vini Souza, is a 26-year-old midfielder who has become Palmeiras’ new target to reinforce the midfield in the 2026 season, according to journalist Jorge Nicola. But who is the midfielder? What are the values? THE Sporting News show.
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Who is Vini Souza?
Revealed by Flamengo’s youth teams, the player gained international recognition after playing for clubs such as Espanyol and Sheffield United, until being signed by Wolfsburg, from Germany, in mid-2025.
His career in Europe consolidated his image as a defensive specialist, especially after standing out as one of the greatest ball stealers in the Premier League and La Liga, characteristics that attracted the attention of the Alviverde board given the need to replace important pieces in the sector.
Palmeiras enters the fight for midfielder Vini Souza, who is also a target for Corinthians.
Verdão signaled its intention to buy the Wolfsburg player with an offer of 9 million euros (around R$56.9 million).
Timão showed interest in counting on Vinícius for… pic.twitter.com/JXZznc7m41
— LIBERTA DEPRE (@liberta___depre) January 20, 2026
How does Vini Souza play?
Within the four lines, Vini Souza stands out for his physical strength and height of 1.87m, which makes him a dominant player in the aerial game and in individual duels. His playing style is compared to that of Serbian Nemanja Matić, prioritizing protection in front of the area and aggressive marking, but with enough technical quality to start the ball out.
He is the typical “5 shirt” who offers security to the defensive system, allowing the more offensive midfielders the freedom to create, a profile that fits the tactical model required by coach Abel Ferreira.
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How much does Vini Souza cost? What are the values?
Negotiation is considered complex and requires high investment. Wolfsburg spent around 15 million euros (approximately R$95 million at the time) to remove him from English football, and the athlete has a long contract, valid until June 2030.
However, the fact that the midfielder has recently lost space and minutes in the German squad has opened up a market opportunity for Palmeiras. The São Paulo club is studying the feasibility of a proposal, trying to use the player’s possible desire to return to Brazil and his current reserve status in the Bundesliga as assets to make a loan or an installment purchase possible.
Vini Souza’s numbers in 25/26
- 14 games
- 0 goals
- 0 assists
