Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a club-record £85 million sale of Brazil winger Savinho to Manchester City, according to an AP source. The deal, valued at $115 million, makes it the biggest fee City has ever received for a player.
City’s record sale
The transfer was confirmed by a City-side source who wished to remain anonymous, and neither club has yet issued a public statement. The sale follows Manchester City’s recent exit of Spain captain Rodri to Barcelona for €76.5 million ($88.5 million). City’s coach Enzo Maresca said Savinho had told him he wanted to leave “since day one”. Maresca also hinted that Omar Marmoush could be the next to depart, with Tottenham a possible destination, though the Egypt international has not asked for a move.
Savinho’s City spell
Savinho joined City in 2024 for €40 million ($43.6 million) from Troyes after a successful loan at Girona. In 53 Premier League appearances he scored just two goals, and his final-ball decisions often frustrated teammates and fans. He was omitted from Brazil’s squad for this year’s World Cup. City’s summer reshuffle also saw the sale of Tijjani Reijnders and Nathan Ake, and the release of John Stones and Bernardo Silva. The only senior outfield addition was England midfielder Elliot Anderson, signed for a reported club-record £116 million ($155 million).
Tottenham’s spending spree
Tottenham’s new signing of Savinho will follow a string of expensive arrivals. The club signed Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for a reported club-record £100 million ($133 million) and Mateus Fernandes from West Ham for £85 million ($113 million). They have also added centre-backs Jan Paul van Hecke and Marco Senesi, and former Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson, as manager Roberto De Zerbi rebuilds a squad that escaped relegation on the final day of last season. With Savinho, Spurs will rival Chelsea as the biggest spender in Europe this off-season, reversing a policy that had long seen them trail other Premier League giants in transfer outlay.
Future prospects
City’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday comes as the club looks to reshape its squad for a new era under Maresca. The coach said, “Since day one, we know exactly what we need. We are working together with the sporting director Hugo Viana and the club. There are 10-11 days to go, anything can happen.” Tottenham’s chairman Peter Charrington’s open letter after last season’s two straight 17th-place finishes highlighted a shift in decision-making, with the club now willing to spend heavily to achieve success. Spurs’ new signing Andy Robertson will line up on the left side of defence as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
