Bournemouth has officially secured the services of 22-year-old Portuguese center-back Antonio Silva from Benfica. The transfer, which could reach £25.7 million with add-ons, marks a major defensive reinforcement for the Premier League side.
The highly rated defender arrives on the south coast to fill the void left by Marcos Senesi, who recently departed for Tottenham Hotspur on a free transfer. Silva brings a wealth of top-flight experience, having been a mainstay for Benfica since his first-team breakthrough in 2022. During his time in Portugal, he competed at the highest levels, including the Champions League, Europa League, and the Club World Cup.
The agreement, which involves an initial £21.4 million fee plus £4.3 million in potential bonuses, was finalized shortly after Benfica's recent Europa League qualifying victory over Swiss outfit St Gallen.
"I am very happy to be here. It's a pleasure to play for Bournemouth and in the Premier League," Silva shared via the club's official website. "The mentality is always to win. I will try my best, and I will play for the fans. We have everything here that helps us perform on the pitch, and I can't wait to get started."
Despite missing out on Roberto Martinez's squad for the most recent summer international tournament, Silva already boasts 20 caps for Portugal. He previously represented his nation at both the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Bournemouth's president of football operations, Tiago Pinto, praised the young defender's maturity and winning mindset.
"Despite being only 22, he has already built an outstanding level of experience at one of Europe's biggest clubs, playing consistently in domestic, European and international competitions," Pinto noted. "Those experiences have helped shape him into a defender with real maturity and leadership qualities."
Silva marks the second major arrival of the summer window for the Cherries, following the £25.7m signing of striker Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche. Under the guidance of new manager Marco Rose, Bournemouth is striving to establish stability this season, pushing back against further departures after offloading over £200 million worth of talent last year.