Savinho is set to become Manchester City’s record sale, bringing a sizeable profit on a player who never quite lived up to his early promise at the Etihad.
David Ornstein reports that Tottenham have reached an agreement in principle to sign the Brazil winger for £75m, with a further £10m included in the deal.
Of those add-ons, £5m are considered highly achievable. City can therefore expect the eventual fee to reach at least £80m if the transfer goes through as planned.
The guaranteed payment exceeds the initial £64.4m Atletico Madrid paid for Julián Álvarez in 2024. That deal was worth up to £81.5m once add-ons were included, but Savinho is now poised to replace the Argentine as City’s record departure.
City secure major return on Savinho
The size of the fee bears little resemblance to Savinho’s standing in the team.
He arrived from Troyes for a reported £30.8m in 2024, having caught the eye during a productive loan spell with Girona. There were encouraging moments in his first year in Manchester, when he contributed three goals and 13 assists in 48 appearances.
Savinho never built on that start. He was in and out of the side during his second season, starting only seven Premier League games, and failed to make either wing his own.
His time at City should not be dismissed entirely. He arrived as a young player, contributed during his first campaign and is still only 22. Tottenham are paying for the possibility that his best years remain ahead of him.
City, though, are selling potential rather than proven influence. Savinho did not become the decisive first-team winger they hoped he would, yet the club are still close to trebling their original investment.
That is the striking part of this transfer. A player who never truly delivered at the Etihad is about to become the biggest sale in City’s history.
The agreement remains subject to Savinho completing his medical.
