Tottenham sign Savinho from Manchester City for £85m to push summer spending to £322m

Transfer terms and squad overhaul

Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Brazilian winger Savio from Manchester City on Tuesday in a deal worth an initial £75 million ($102.2 million), with potential add-ons of £10 million ($13.63 million) taking the total valuation up to £85 million. The 22-year-old attacker, who chose to wear his given name Savio and the number 17 shirt, joins after making 84 appearances and scoring seven goals during two seasons at Manchester City. City had originally acquired him in 2024 from French side Troyes for approximately £30 million following a loan spell at Girona, where he scored 11 goals in 41 matches. The transaction lifts Tottenham's summer transfer expenditure to £322 million ($439.08 million) across seven acquisitions as the club reconstructs its roster after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season.

Managerial reaction and player arrival

The agreement follows Tottenham's 3-0 defeat against Brentford in their opening fixture of the Premier League campaign. Manager Roberto De Zerbi, who joined the London club in March 2026 and helped secure top-flight safety on the final matchday with a 1-0 win over Everton, noted the need for offensive impact from wide areas. Savio confirmed his decision to make the move after direct conversations with the coaching staff.

It took some time, but I am very happy to be here. It is a wonderful opportunity at a brilliant club, with one of the best managers in the world. As soon as I spoke with the head coach, I knew I had to come.

De Zerbi praised the winger's individual skill profile and potential goal output across the frontline.

In terms of one-to-one, he's one of the best players, can play on either side. If you analyse the best wingers in the world they score 10-15 goals a season and he has the qualities.

Rebuilding after opening loss

The acquisition of Savio adds to a recruitment window that includes midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, as well as defender Jan Paul van Hecke. Tottenham also added defenders Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi alongside goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on free transfers, while holding ongoing discussions regarding Manchester City forward Omar Marmoush. Addressing the squad's form ahead of their League Cup second-round match against second-tier Charlton Athletic on Wednesday, De Zerbi emphasized that competitive standards must change quickly.

For me it's like the Premier League. We are not in the position to make differences. We need to get used to winning the matches.

Cup preparations and team fitness

Tottenham host Charlton Athletic at home before welcoming Newcastle United on Saturday in league action. New club captain Micky van de Ven is set to return to the substitutes' bench after recovering from an injury sustained during the club's pre-season tour. Spanish right-back Pedro Porro will also rejoin the matchday squad as a substitute following an extended break after Spain's World Cup victory. Midfielder James Maddison remains under evaluation after sustaining a minor shoulder injury, while De Zerbi noted that Savio's readiness for immediate match action on Wednesday remains to be decided.