Savinho’s £75m move to Tottenham Hotspur marks a milestone for the City Football Group (CFG). The 22‑year‑old winger, who joined Tottenham for a fee of £75m plus £10m in add‑ons, is the most expensive sale in Manchester City history.
Savinho’s journey
Savinho began his career at Atlético Mineiro before signing for CFG‑owned French club Troyes in 2022 for a record fee. He never played for Troyes, spending the 2022‑23 season on loan at PSV and the 2023‑24 season at Girona, another CFG club. While at Girona he played 37 league matches, scoring nine goals and providing eight assists, helping the club secure Champions League qualification for the first time. City purchased him from Troyes in 2024 for £30.8m, a move that sparked debate over whether the price reflected his market value after a strong spell in Spain. In the Premier League, Savinho made 48 appearances under Pep Guardiola, contributing 16 goal‑related statistics across all competitions and recording eight assists in the league – the highest for a City player that season.
City’s multi‑club model
The sale to Tottenham is a textbook example of CFG’s multi‑club strategy. By developing talent across its network of 12 clubs worldwide, City can nurture players, sell them for substantial profits, and reinvest in new prospects. The transfer of Savinho, which could net nearly £70m if all add‑ons are triggered, demonstrates the financial upside of this model. City’s academy has already generated over £250m from player sales in the past five years, with names such as Morgan Rogers, Douglas Luiz, Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Oscar Bobb moving on to rival Premier League clubs. The group’s managing director of global football, Brian Marwood, described the transfer as a “success story for the group” and highlighted the pathway created for the player.
Future prospects
Looking ahead, CFG is monitoring several young talents. 18‑year‑old Ryan McAidoo has already debuted for City, while 16‑year‑old Shin Miidera of Yokohama F. Marinos and American midfielder Cavan Sullivan of Philadelphia Union are on the radar. Vitor Reiss, who spent last season on loan to Girona from City, is also a potential future asset. The transfer of Savinho to Tottenham is expected to be completed in the summer transfer window, cementing City’s reputation for turning academy prospects into high‑value assets.
