Get to know our exciting new Brazilian signing a little better with a few facts about Allan Elias’s career and backstory following his move to Manchester City.
Hair we go
Allan’s nickname as a child growing up in Brazil was ‘Little Balotelli’. That was christened in homage to his bleach blond Mohawk hairdo.
However, in truth the nickname was more inspired by Brazilian icon Neymar rather than in reference to City’s beloved favourite maverick Italian Mario Balotelli.
Familiar footsteps
Allan follows in the footsteps of a number of other notable players to have made the move from Palmeiras to City.
Central defender Vitor Reis also joined us from the Sao Paulo club back in January 2025 whilst Gabriel Jesus also moved from Palmeiras to City early in 2017.
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English breakthrough
Lucas Andrade was Allan’s coach at both Under-15 and Under 20 level at Palmeiras and reveals how he was first truly alerted to his potential during a youth tournament here in England when Elias was still a teenager.
“He scored a lot of goals,” recalled Andrade. “But that tournament is when I realised Allan had the level to play here one day.
“He played very well against Chelsea, against Tottenham. The final was Manchester City against Chelsea. And I watched the game with Allan in the crowd. And now, many years later, he has come back to England to play for Manchester City. It is a very nice story.”
Tears of joy
After Elias had registered his first senior goal for Palmeiras in January of last year against Mirassol, subsequent TV footage of his parents’ joyful celebrations went viral across Brazil.
Inside information
Ahead of signing for City, Allan says he received hugely helpful advice and information from Brazilian compatriot Vitor Reis.
“He said that when I arrived, he would give me attention and talk to me and explain to me how it works,” Allan revealed
Flexible friend
City are signing not just a hugely talented winger but also a selfless player equally adept at playing as both a midfielder and defender.
“He’s been playing mainly as a right winger since he was promoted to the first team, but he was a No. 10 [behind the striker] most of the time in his youth career,” said Rogério Ferreira, former head of the Palmeiras academy.
“He can easily also be a [box-to-box] No. 8, and work on both wings. He has the versatility to adapt to style and different teams and pace.”
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Futsal footing
Allan credits futsal with helping aid his early career progression.
He played the sport from the age of seven through to 14 and says the close skills and technique it demands perfectly equipped him for the challenge of mainstream football.
Big break
In the wake of a hugely impressive first full campaign with Palmeiras, Allan’s impact was further recognised when he was awarded the Bola de Prata breakthrough award.
The prize recognises the young player to have made the most significant impact in the Brazilian top tier with Estevao and Endrick amongst the previous recipients.
Grand designs
One of Allan’s most iconic displays to date came at Rio de Janeiro’s famed Maracana Stadium in earlier in 2026.
He was part of a Palmeiras side taking on a Flamengo side who hadn’t beaten at the Maracanã for almost 11 years. Allan helped change all that.
After setting up the opening goal, Allan then scored the second himself with Palmeirs eventually running comprehensive 3-0 victors and illustrated his capacity to produce in the most pressurised of environments.
The right stuff
As well as possessing excellent technical quality, Allan’s character, personality and selfless mindset has also come in for praise.
“He comes from that generation, this latest generation of good players, good people, good characters,” Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira said last year.
“Whether they play or not, whether they are substituted or not, they understand and respect the coach. But more than the coach, they respect the group.”
A soccer player wearing a Manchester City women's team kit controls the ball on a pitch. The background shows a stadium with spectator stands.
A person wearing a Manchester City jersey, pointing forward and holding the shirt collar with a smile.
A person sits in front of a Manchester City backdrop wearing a team jacket, with various sponsor logos displayed behind. The text 'Allan' is featured prominently at the bottom right.