Real Madrid has announced the signing of Bernardo Silva as their second acquisition of the summer, following his departure from Manchester City, where he joined on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old midfielder has signed a two-year contract with Madrid that runs through 2028 after completing nine seasons at City.
Silva’s arrival follows that of Marc Cucurella, who was signed from Chelsea earlier this week for a fee of €60 million ($70 million).
This summer is shaping up to be active for Los Blancos, who have also reappointed José Mourinho as head coach following Álvaro Arbeloa’s exit.
ESPN previously reported that deals are in place for Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries as Madrid revamps their squad after two consecutive seasons without silverware.
Centre-back Konaté is expected to join as a free agent after leaving Liverpool, while Dumfries will sign for €20 million ($23 million) from Inter Milan.
Madrid president Florentino Pérez also made a €150 million ($174 million) offer for Atlético Madrid‘s Julián Álvarez last week, though it was swiftly rejected.
It remains uncertain if Pérez will continue to seek Álvarez or pursue another forward, or if he will rely on existing options such as Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Rodrygo for the upcoming season.
The signing of Silva is seen as a significant accomplishment for Madrid, especially as he attracted interest from both Barcelona and Atlético.
Barcelona had discussions with Silva’s agent, Jorge Mendes, offering the Portugal international a chance to join the club, though it was unclear how he would fit into Hansi Flick’s plans.
Atlético, along with Benfica and clubs from Saudi Arabia and the MLS, were also fervently pursuing his signature after it was confirmed he would leave City earlier this year.
However, the hiring of fellow Portuguese manager Mourinho as coach played a crucial role in swaying Silva towards Madrid last week.
Silva began his career at Benfica’s youth academy before moving to Monaco in 2014, initially on loan, before officially joining City for approximately €50 million ($58 million) in 2017.
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During his tenure at the Etihad, Silva made over 460 appearances and became renowned for his exceptional consistency and availability, scoring 76 goals across all competitions.
He collected a total of 19 trophies during his nearly ten years at City, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.
Additionally, Silva has represented Portugal 109 times, winning the Nations League in 2019 and 2025, and is currently participating in the World Cup, with Roberto Martínez’s squad set to begin their campaign later on Wednesday against DR Congo in Group K.