Who is Alysson? Grêmio's 19-year-old winger that looks set for January move to Aston Villa

TM insight 

Aston Villa look set to make a head start on the January transfer window with an exciting talent from the Brazilian Série A. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Premier League side are set to sign Grêmio winger Alysson in the forthcoming transfer window, with reports suggesting that Villa have struck a deal to pay €10 million in initial fees for the 19-year-old talent, alongside a further €2m in add-ons. But who is Alysson and what can Villa fans expect from the player in 2026?

Alysson came through Grêmio’s youth ranks, where he was quickly identified as a player that needed to be fast-tracked into the senior team after bagging seven goals and five assists in just 23 games for the Brazilian club’s U20 side. He then made his senior debut in 2024, coming on with 16 minutes to go in his team’s 3-0 defeat to Juventude July 2024, but it was in the previous season that Brazilian football really got the measure of the young winger. Over the course of Grêmio’s most recent league campaign, Alysson made no less than 31 appearances either as a right wing-back or a right winger.

Such performances at senior level despite his young age has seen Alysson’s market value skyrocket in the last 12 months. After receiving a preliminary €100k market value upon making his debut in the senior squad, Alysson then saw his market value rise to €1m in the summer of 2025, only for it to shoot up to €8m in the last six months. Villa fans will be excited to know that only three players under the age of 20 gained more market value in the Brazilian top-flight over the course of 2025. And, according to Transfermarkt’s Brazilian football expert, Thiago Rabelo, that’s just one of many signs to suggest that Alysson has bags of potential.

“Alysson is a player who could have deserved more minutes this season for Grêmio,” noted Rabelo, when asked about Alysson’s development in Brazil. “He is a strong player, with very good speed when dribbling and an interesting left foot. He was hampered by Grêmio's poor form, with a lot of political turmoil and the need for more experienced players to avoid relegation to the second division.” Should Alysson make the move to Villa for €12m, he’ll become Grêmio’s fifth most expensive sale of all time - level with 18-year-old left winger Gustavo Nunes, who joined Brentford last year. However, Rabelo would warn against drawing too many comparisons between the two wingers.

“Alysson has a different profile from Gustavo Nunes, the striker who left Grêmio and went to the Premier League last season,” said the Transfermarkt Brazilian football expert. “Nunes is a player with good speed, but he doesn't have enough physical strength for tougher battles in the Premier League. In this aspect, Alysson has more talent and potential. At only 19 years old, he is still young enough to get stronger physically and better cope with the difficulties of English and European football. He isn't a player ready for big games with Aston Villa, but he is a player with plenty of potential to shine in England.”