What Savinho's £75m Tottenham move says about Man City's multi-club strategy

Manchester City have agreed to sell Savinho to Tottenham for £75m plus up to £10m in add-ons, a record fee for the club and a landmark moment for City Football Group (CFG), which holds ties to 12 clubs worldwide.

The 22-year-old Brazilian joined CFG-owned French club Troyes from Atletico Mineiro in 2022 as a record signing, but left two years later without ever playing for the team. Instead he was loaned to PSV in the Netherlands and then to fellow CFG club Girona in Spain, where he became a standout performer during the 2023-24 season, contributing nine goals and eight assists in 37 league appearances as Girona qualified for the Champions League for the first time.

Manchester City subsequently signed him from Troyes for £30.8m in 2024. Over two Premier League seasons he scored just twice and added 12 assists, but the deal has proven a financial success, generating close to £70m in profit once bonuses from the Tottenham move are included.

Girona's director of football, Quique Carcel, told BBC Sport the club had hoped to keep Savinho for another season, but interest from City manager Pep Guardiola and director of football Txiki Begiristain settled the matter. CFG's managing director of global football, Brian Marwood, described the sale as a success story for the group, noting the aim is always to develop players toward Manchester City's first team.

Wider picture

Manchester City have recouped more than £250m from selling academy-developed players over the past five years, including Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers, who went on to thrive at other Premier League clubs. Marwood acknowledged that judging young talent carries inherent uncertainty, and CFG is already tracking prospects such as 18-year-old Ryan McAidoo along with 16-year-olds Shin Miidera and Cavan Sullivan.