Bernardo Silva Joins Real Madrid On Free Transfer

Bernardo Silva has joined Real Madrid on a free transfer after his Manchester City contract expired at the end of last season. The 31-year-old signed a two-year deal and ends a nine-year stay in Manchester with a move that brings him to one of Europe’s biggest squads on fresh terms.

Silva Leaves Manchester City

Silva arrived from Monaco in 2017 and leaves City with 76 goals in 460 appearances. He won six Premier League titles and one Champions League there, and finished with 16 major trophies after captaining the side in his final season.

His last year at City was still busy. He played in all 38 of the club’s Premier League matches as the team finished second, while also collecting the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. That run shows why Madrid moved quickly once his contract expired.

Real Madrid Beat Rival Offers

Barcelona and Atletico Madrid also made offers, but Silva chose Real Madrid’s proposal. For Madrid, the deal adds an established Portugal international without a transfer fee, and it gives Mourinho’s side another proven midfield option after the club’s recent moves involving Marc Cucurella and Antonio Rudiger.

The timing also works for Silva. He is set to feature for Portugal in their opening Group K match against DR Congo on Wednesday evening, so he moves into the new deal with international duty already on the calendar. The bigger shift is simple: after nine years in Manchester, he now starts over in Madrid on a two-year contract.