Antonio Silva, a defender for Portugal, expresses his enthusiasm about joining Bournemouth after finalizing a move worth up to £25.7 million.
The 22-year-old arrives from Benfica, where he established himself as a regular since stepping up to the first team in 2022, competing in major tournaments like the Champions League, Europa League, and Club World Cup.
Advertisement
This is an important signing for Bournemouth, who prioritized finding a replacement for Marcos Senesi, following his transfer to Tottenham earlier this month.
“I am thrilled to be here. It’s an honor to represent Bournemouth in the Premier League,” Silva said on the club’s website. “I’m looking forward to starting the season with my teammates and am eager to contribute. Our mentality will always be to win; I will give my all and play for the fans. We have all we need to excel on the pitch, and I’m excited to get started.”
Clubs confirmed that an agreement was reached following Benfica’s Europa League qualifying victory against Swiss team St Gallen on Thursday.
Advertisement
The overall fee for Silva includes an initial payment of £21.4 million, with an additional £4.3 million contingent on performance-related add-ons.
Silva boasts 20 caps for Portugal and has been part of the national team in both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024, although he was not selected for this summer’s tournament by coach Roberto Martinez.
“We have admired Antonio for a long time, and we’re excited to welcome him to AFC Bournemouth,” stated Tiago Pinto, Bournemouth’s president of football operations. “At just 22, he has amassed significant experience at a top European club, consistently playing in domestic and international competitions. His experiences have developed him into a mature defender with leadership capabilities.”
Advertisement
“He is ambitious, holds a proven winning mindset, and understands what it takes to compete for trophies.”
Silva becomes Bournemouth’s second signing this summer, following striker Alvaro Rodriguez’s arrival from Elche in a deal also worth up to £25.7 million.
The Cherries, now under new manager Marco Rose, are aiming for a stable summer after offloading over £200 million worth of players last season.
They are committed to keeping three key players—Alex Scott, Rayan, and Junior Kroupi—despite incoming offers.
Kroupi is sidelined for three to four months due to an injury sustained during pre-season training.