Tottenham have reached an agreement with Manchester City to acquire winger Savinho for £75m, with an additional £10m in potential add-ons. The 22-year-old Brazilian is scheduled for a medical examination before finalising a long-term contract with Spurs.
This move to north London has been in development for over a year, following an unsuccessful attempt by Spurs to sign Savinho last summer. Savinho had previously chosen to remain at Etihad Stadium, but his playing time was limited under Pep Guardiola during the last term, where he started only seven Premier League matches.
Spurs head coach Roberto de Zerbi is looking to bolster his team’s attack, having already spent a combined £185m on midfielders Mateus Fernandes from West Ham and Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. Sources indicate that Tottenham’s spending may not conclude with Savinho, as talks are reportedly progressing positively for Savinho’s City teammate, Omar Marmoush.
Marmoush, an Egypt international, was signed by City for £59m from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025 but saw his position in the squad decline last season. Tottenham also maintains interest in Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, though it is uncertain if they can finance a deal for him in addition to potential moves for Marmoush and Savinho.
Savinho’s arrival is expected to push Spurs’ summer spending beyond £300m. The club has, however, recouped approximately £140m through the sales of Cristian Romero, Djed Spence, and Luka Vuskovic. Savinho signed a contract extension with City until 2031 last October.
Savinho’s impact and potential
Savinho’s performance at Manchester City has led to some questions regarding Tottenham’s substantial investment. The Brazilian has made 84 appearances for City, scoring seven goals and providing 13 assists. Over his two seasons at the Etihad, he has scored just twice in the Premier League.
Savinho joined City from sister club Troyes in 2024 for £30.8m. His reputation significantly grew during a successful 2023-24 loan spell with Girona, where he emerged as a prominent ball carrier in La Liga. He played in 37 league matches for Girona, contributing nine goals and eight assists across various attacking roles, helping the club secure Champions League qualification for the first time.
During his time at Girona, Savinho led La Liga in several key metrics:
- Successful take-ons (104)
- Progressive carries (181)
- Goal-creating actions (25)
- Expected assists (9.9)
He also ranked second for passes into the penalty area and progressive carrying distance. Much of his most effective play originated from the left wing, where he featured in 27 matches, scoring five goals and providing six assists, though he also played centrally and on the right.
This versatility and direct style could align well with De Zerbi’s tactical approach, which often involves drawing opponents forward to create space for wide players in one-on-one situations. Savinho’s acceleration and willingness to challenge defenders make him suitable for these moments. From the left, he can maintain width and attack the outside, while from the right, he can cut inside onto his stronger left foot and link up with teammates.
His value extends beyond goal-scoring, as his ability to carry the ball over distances and disrupt defensive formations at Girona could offer Spurs a more direct route through compact defences and create opportunities for central forwards. While this aspect of his game was less apparent at City due to intense competition from players like Phil Foden and Rayan Cherki, Tottenham’s investment reflects confidence in the qualities he demonstrated at Girona.
At 22 years old, these attributes help to explain why Spurs are prepared to pay a significant fee despite his more modest scoring record in Manchester. Tottenham will commence their Premier League season away at Brentford on Saturday at 17:30 BST.
Source: bbc.com