Tottenham Hotspur have finalised the signing of Brazilian winger Savinho from Manchester City in a deal that could rise to £85million, as Roberto De Zerbi continues his overhaul of the club's attacking options ahead of the September 1 deadline.
The 22-year-old has put pen to paper on a long-term contract, with Spurs paying an initial £75m and a further £10m possible in add-ons, of which around £5m is considered close to guaranteed. The transfer represents a club-record sale for City, who signed Savinho from French side Troyes for £30.8m in 2024.
The move ends a saga that stretches back more than a year, with Tottenham having previously tried and failed to land the winger last summer. Savinho ultimately stayed at the Etihad Stadium, but his opportunities dwindled under Pep Guardiola last season, particularly after City's January signing of Antoine Semenyo restricted him to just seven Premier League starts and 821 minutes in the competition.
Despite the reduced role, his underlying numbers illustrate why Spurs were prepared to commit such a fee. In the 2024-25 campaign, Savinho registered eight Premier League assists from open play despite playing only 1,773 minutes, ranking among the division's most productive creators per 90 minutes behind only a handful of players including Mohamed Salah. He was also one of the league's most effective ball-carriers, trailing only Jeremy Doku for progressive carries of 10 metres or more.
"It's taken a while but I'm very happy to be here," Savinho said. "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 was equally enthusiastic about his new recruit. "Savio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions," the Spurs manager said. "He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity."
Notably, the winger appears set to be known simply as Sávio at his new club, with the name expected to feature on the back of his shirt going forward.
The deal forms part of a significant summer rebuild at Tottenham, whose total outlay has now surpassed £300m following the arrivals of Mateus Fernandes, Sandro Tonali and Jan Paul van Hecke, among others, along with free transfers for Marcos Senesi, Andrew Robertson and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The investment comes after Spurs endured back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League, a run that was compounded by a chastening 3-0 opening-weekend defeat at Brentford.
Tottenham are not finished in the market. They remain in advanced talks with City over a separate deal for forward Omar Marmoush, with sources suggesting there is a good chance of an agreement before the window closes, while the club have also been credited with interest in Liverpool's Cody Gakpo.
For City, the departure continues a summer of significant squad turnover under new manager Enzo Maresca, who has already sanctioned a €100m deal for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as part of a broader midfield rebuild following the exits of Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders. The club have also reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Palmeiras over Brazilian winger Allan as a replacement option following Savinho's exit.
Based on reporting from The Independent, London Standard, BBC Sport and The Guardian.