Bournemouth has successfully completed the transfer of Portuguese international defender Antonio Silva from Benfica, with the deal valued at £21.4m plus an additional £4.3m in potential add-ons. Silva expressed his excitement about joining the team, stating, "I am very happy to be here. It's a pleasure to play for Bournemouth and in the Premier League. I'm eager to start the season with my teammates and play for the fans." The 22-year-old defender, who has already made 20 international appearances for Portugal and played 237 games for Benfica, fits the profile of the kind of player Bournemouth were targeting following the departure of Marcos Senesi.
Silva has won six titles with Benfica and the national team and was named the best defender in the 2022/23 Portuguese league season. According to Sky Sports' Adam Bate, Silva's move to Bournemouth could reignite his career, which had stalled despite his early promise.
Bournemouth has a reputation for developing defenders, and Silva is expected to flourish under the guidance of boss Marco Rose.