Tottenham Hotspur have officially announced the arrival of the 22-year-old Brazilian winger Savio, who arrives from Manchester City in a deal reported to be worth around £85 million. The North London club disclosed that an initial payment of £75 million will be made, with an additional £10 million in performance-related add-ons that could be triggered over the next few seasons.
In practice, about £5 million of those add-ons are effectively guaranteed, meaning Manchester City are set to receive a minimum of £80 million for the transfer. The young forward, who was previously known as Savinho during his spell at City, will don the number 17 shirt for Spurs.
The nickname Savinho originated when his first call‑up to the Brazilian national team saw the diminutive printed on the back of his jersey; he kept it through his move from Girona to Manchester City in 2024 before deciding to revert to his full name upon his Tottenham move. Savio has already been registered in time to be eligible for Tottenham's Carabao Cup third‑round clash with Charlton Athletic, a match that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. His debut for the club is therefore imminent, and supporters will be eager to see how his skill set integrates with Roberto De Zerbi's attacking philosophy. De Zerbi, who took charge of Spurs earlier this season, praised Savio as one of the finest one‑on‑one wingers in the world.
"In attacking positions we need players capable of beating a defender, creating a chance and ultimately scoring," the manager said at a press conference. "Since 2024 he has been among the best in that regard. He can operate on either flank, and I have known him for a long time, even when he was still at Manchester City. He is a major signing for us." However, De Zerbi was also candid about the expectations placed on the new signing.
"I don’t know if I am the right man to get the best out of him, but he must deliver," he continued. "A player of his calibre, who excels in one‑on‑one situations and creates chances, also needs to find the net. The top wingers in the world typically score ten to fifteen goals a season.
Savio has the talent; he just needs to develop the habit of finishing as well as assisting." In a statement released by Tottenham, Savio expressed his excitement about the move: "It has taken a while, but I am very happy to be here. This is 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 added his own remarks, highlighting the winger's attributes: "Savio brings energy, imagination and quality to the wide areas. He isn’t afraid to take on defenders and has the ability to change a game with his creativity.
We are delighted to have him, and I look forward to working with him, helping him continue to grow and seeing his personality enrich the squad." Savio's transfer pushes Tottenham's summer spending beyond the £300 million mark. The club has already splashed out £237 million on Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul Van Hecke, while also securing free‑transfer deals for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi. Including Savio, the total outlay now exceeds £300 million, a figure that places Spurs among the most aggressive spenders in the Premier League this window. For Manchester City, the deal sets a new club record.
The £85 million fee eclipses the previous high of £82 million received for Julián Álvarez’s move to Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2024. City’s head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed that the club is currently short of forward options, especially after an injury to Jeremy Doku and the pending negotiations for Omar Marmoush, who is also linked with a move to Tottenham. Sky Sports data suggests that, with Savio’s signing, Spurs have now overspent by nearly £130 million relative to the estimated market values of their acquisitions.
The club’s three biggest overspend deals—Tonali, Fernandes and Savio—are all above the valuations provided by Transfermarkt, with Savio being the most over‑valued player by roughly £55 million. Even after accounting for free signings such as Robertson, Senesi and Martin Dubravka, the overspend figure remains above £100 million.
The arrival of Savio also adds depth to Tottenham’s attacking options ahead of a congested schedule that includes Premier League fixtures, domestic cups and European competition. His ability to drift wide, cut inside and take on defenders one‑on‑one should complement the existing talent pool, which includes the likes of Harry Kane, James Maddison and the newly signed Andy Robertson on the left flank. Fans can look forward to seeing Savio in action soon, as his debut against Charlton Athletic approaches. The match will be streamed on Sky Sports, and the club encourages supporters to use a Chrome browser for the best video experience.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on whether the Brazilian can translate his dribbling flair and creative instincts into tangible goal contributions for a Tottenham side eager to return to the upper echelons of English football.