Brazilian winger Savio has joined Tottenham Hotspur from Manchester City in a deal worth up to £85m, marking the conclusion of negotiations that began over a year ago. The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract and will wear the number 17 shirt, reverting to his full name, Savio Moreira de Oliveira, after playing as Savinho during his time at City.
Manchester City confirmed the departure on social media, while Spurs announced the arrival of the player who has earned 13 caps for Brazil. According to reports on the transfer structure, the package comprises £75m paid upfront with £10m in add-ons, of which £5m is considered effectively guaranteed, meaning City will receive at least £80m if those bonuses are met.
Savio's decision to revert to his original name marks a symbolic fresh start. During his time at City, he adopted the name Savinho after Brazil's national team placed it on his shirt in 2024, and he requested that Manchester City retain the name for luck when he joined them that year. Now at Spurs, he has chosen to return to his given name for his new chapter.
How long has Tottenham pursued this signing?
Spurs' interest in acquiring Savio stretches back to the summer of 2025, when the winger opted to remain at Manchester City rather than move to north London under then-manager Thomas Frank. His game time became increasingly limited under Pep Guardiola in the 2024-25 season, with only seven Premier League starts as City signed winger Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth in January. Across all competitions, Savio featured in just 31% of City's available minutes, a sharp decline from the previous campaign when he appeared in 54% of matches.
The player expressed his relief at finally completing the transfer.
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.
Roberto de Zerbi, Tottenham's head coach, praised the acquisition in terms that highlight what the club believes Savio will bring to their attack.
Savio is a player who brings energy, imagination and quality in wide positions. He has the courage to attack defenders and the ability to change a game with his creativity.
What makes Savio such an attractive prospect despite limited City minutes?
Despite playing only 1,773 Premier League minutes in 2024-25, Savio registered eight assists from open play—a tally matched or exceeded by only five other players in the division. On a per-90-minute basis, he ranked third for open-play assists with 0.41, while his chance creation rate of 2.2 per 90 minutes was surpassed only by Mohamed Salah. These statistics reveal why Tottenham are prepared to invest heavily in a player whose opportunities at City had become scarce.
His most dangerous attribute proved to be ball-carrying ability. Among Premier League players with at least 1,000 minutes in 2024-25, only Jeremy Doku averaged more progressive carries of 10 metres or more than Savio's 6.8 per 90. He led the entire division for carries followed by a chance created, averaging 1.3 per 90, while only Son Heung-min ended a carry with an assist more frequently. Savio completed 2.6 dribbles per 90 with a 51% success rate, using these actions to draw defenders before releasing teammates into dangerous positions.
His breakthrough came during a loan spell at Girona in the 2023-24 season, when he played 2,989 minutes in La Liga. He scored nine goals and supplied eight assists while establishing himself as one of Spain's most dangerous one-against-one players, with 65% of his minutes coming on the left wing. At City, his role shifted—across his two Premier League seasons, his most common position was on the right, accounting for 36% of his minutes compared with 20% on the left. This versatility may prove valuable at Spurs.
Savio joined Manchester City from French side Troyes in a £30.8m deal two years ago and made 84 appearances across all competitions, scoring seven goals and providing 16 assists before his departure.
How does this fit into Tottenham's broader summer spending?
The Savio acquisition represents a significant milestone in Tottenham's transfer activity. According to reports on the club's summer spending, Spurs' total outlay has now surpassed the £300m mark following this deal. His arrival follows those of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham, Sandro Tonali from Newcastle, and Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton this summer for a combined £312m.
Tottenham have also brought in defenders Marcos Senesi and Andrew Robertson, and goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, all on free transfers. This represents an ambitious reshaping of the squad under De Zerbi's management.
The club remains in advanced negotiations to acquire Egypt forward Omar Marmoush from Manchester City, with sources indicating there is a
good chancethe deal will be completed before the 1 September transfer deadline.
What happens next for Savio at Spurs?
Following the completion of his transfer, Savio's immediate focus will be formal registration and integration into the squad ahead of upcoming matches. The player underwent a medical on 21 August 2026 before the move was made official, allowing him to begin training with his new teammates and preparing for competitive action.
Key Facts:
- Savio has signed a five-year contract with Tottenham worth up to £85m (£75m upfront plus £10m in add-ons)
- The 22-year-old Brazilian winger has 13 international caps and will wear number 17
- He recorded eight Premier League assists in 2024-25 despite playing only 1,773 minutes for Manchester City
- Tottenham's summer spending has exceeded £300m following this acquisition
- The transfer window closes on 1 September 2026
