Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the arrival of the 22‑year‑old Brazilian winger Savio, who departs Manchester City in a deal reported to be worth around £85 million. The transfer is structured with an upfront payment of roughly £75 million, plus an additional £10 million in performance‑related add‑ons.
Of those add‑ons, about £5 million are effectively guaranteed, meaning City are set to receive a minimum of £80 million for the young forward. The player, who was widely known as Savinho during his stint at City, has now reverted to his given name, Savio, after the nickname was originally printed on his shirt during his first call‑up for Brazil. He retained the moniker when he moved from Girona to Manchester City in early 2024, but the Tottenham move sees him drop the diminutive and embrace his full name again.
He will wear the number 17 shirt for the North London club. Savio was registered in time for the Carabao Cup third‑round tie against Charlton Athletic, giving him the opportunity to make his Spurs debut on live television via Sky Sports. The signing marks the culmination of a long‑standing target for the club; Tottenham had attempted to secure his services last summer but were unsuccessful at the time. The addition of Savio pushes Tottenham’s summer spending beyond the £300 million threshold.
This follows a busy window that saw the club acquire Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke for a combined fee of about £237 million, as well as free‑signings such as Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. In contrast, the fee paid for Savio sets a new record for Manchester City, eclipsing the £82 million they received for Julian Álvarez’s move to Atlético Madrid earlier in 2024.
Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s head coach, praised Savio’s one‑on‑one ability, calling him one of the best in that discipline worldwide. De Zerbi stressed that, to reach true world‑class status, Savio must add a consistent goal‑scoring threat to his already impressive dribbling and chance‑creation skills.
"In attacking positions we need players capable of winning one‑on‑one battles, of creating opportunities and, ultimately, of scoring," De Zerbi explained at a press conference. He added that while Savio excels on either flank, the next step in his development is to convert his creativity into a higher tally of goals each season, noting that elite wingers typically score between ten and fifteen goals annually.
Speaking on his own terms, Savio expressed enthusiasm about the move: "It’s taken a while, but I’m very happy to be here. It’s a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club with one of the best managers in the world.
As soon as I spoke to the head coach I knew I had to come. He told me he wants to help me reach the highest level, and I believe we can do that together, as a team." De Zerbi echoed these sentiments, highlighting Savio’s energy, imagination and willingness to take on defenders. "He has the courage to attack and the ability to change a game with his creativity. We’re very pleased to have him, and I look forward to helping him continue to grow and bring his personality to the squad," the manager said.
The transfer also fits into a broader narrative of Tottenham’s aggressive recruitment strategy this summer. Sky Sports data suggests the club has overspent by nearly £130 million relative to the market values listed on Transfermarkt, making Spurs the biggest over‑spenders in the Premier League for the window.
Even after accounting for free acquisitions—Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Martin Dubravka—the net overspend remains around £101.7 million. Savio, in particular, is considered the most over‑valued signing, with an estimated £55 million premium over his assessed market worth. While Tottenham celebrate Savio’s arrival, Manchester City are already linked with further business.
Sky Sports reported that the English club is close to finalising a deal for Omar Marmoush, with negotiations reportedly progressing positively. However, City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Jeremy Doku is currently sidelined with injury, leaving the club short on attacking options now that Savio has departed. Marmoush’s recent involvement with City has been limited; he was an unused substitute in the 2‑1 Premier League victory over Bournemouth and featured for 37 minutes in the Community Shield loss to Arsenal.
Should the transfer go through, it would represent another high‑profile move for the London side. Overall, Savio’s transfer underscores Tottenham’s intent to rebuild and compete on multiple fronts.
By securing a player renowned for his dribbling, pace and versatility on both wings, the club aims to add a fresh dimension to its attacking play. The challenge for De Zerbi will be to integrate Savio quickly, harness his one‑on‑one prowess, and coax him into adding a reliable goal tally to his repertoire. If successful, the £85 million investment could pay dividends both in domestic competitions and in Europe, as Spurs strive to re‑establish themselves among the Premier League elite.