Bournemouth have officially signed Portugal international defender Antonio Silva from Benfica for £21.4m plus a potential £4.3m in add-ons. Silva expressed his excitement, stating, "I am thrilled to be here and play for Bournemouth in the Premier League. My goal is to win, and I will give my best for the fans." Following the summer departure of Marcos Senesi, Bournemouth targeted a centre-back, and Silva fits the profile. At just 22 years old, Silva has played 237 games for Benfica and made 20 international appearances for Portugal, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
He has won six titles with Benfica and the national team and was named the best defender in the 2022/23 Portuguese league season. Bournemouth sees Silva as a player with a proven winning mentality and European experience. Despite being linked to Europe's biggest clubs, Silva's move to Bournemouth could reignite his career, with the Cherries having a track record of developing defenders.