It’s been a quiet start to the summer transfer window so far but Manchester City have finally made Savinho their first signing.
Savinho, or Savio as he’s also known, has just come off the back of a sensational debut season with Girona in La Liga and Manchester City have wasted no time in tying him to the club.
It was easy enough for City to win the race, given his parent club Troyes and Girona, are both owned by the City Football Group but the Blues have moved to extinguish interest from any other would-be suitors.
Pep Guardiola is well-stocked on forwards but it does look like Savinho will be following in fellow South American Julian Alvarez’s footsteps by staying at the club rather than heading out on loan.
Here is everything you need to know about City’s exciting incoming addition.
How old is Savinho?
Savio Moreira de Oliveria, known as Savio or Savinho, was born on April 10, 2002, in Sao Mateus, Espirito Santo, Brazil.
As of June 2024, he is 20 years old.
Is it Savio or Savinho?
Savio is actually the real forename of City’s exciting summer signing and it’s the name he wore on the back of his shirt at Athletico Mineiro, PSV and Girona.
However, during his time in Spain, Girona fans took to calling him Savinho, a nickname that stuck so much he was registered under the name upon his first call-up for Brazil.
He wears Savinho on the back of his shirt for his country and will do for his club for the first time at City.
Savinho height
Savio stands at 5 feet and 7 inches (176cm) according to Transfermarkt.
He uses his slight and nimble frame to his advantage with lightning pace and a low centre of gravity that makes him a headache for defenders.
What position does Savinho play?
Savio predominantly plays on the left wing and, as a left-footer, he does so as a traditional winger rather than an inverted one, helping him pick up 10 assists from the flank last season.
However, he is a versatile forward who has also played on the right side and centrally during his short career.
Savio told City on his best position: “My favourite position that I really like, as you said, on the left and right, I can also play in the middle.
“But I really prefer to play on the right-wing. But whatever the coach, the boss decides, I will help the team.”
How much did Savinho cost Man City?
City paid an initial £21m for Savio to Troyes, a figure which could rise up to as high as £33.6m if certain clauses are met.
What is Savinho’s Man City squad number?
Savio has taken the No.26 at the Etihad Stadium.
He follows in the footsteps of fellow winger Riyad Mahrez, who wore the number with distinction during his five years at City before leaving in 2023.
How good is Savinho?
Even though he started last season as a teenager moving to his third new country in a year who was yet to play a full campaign, Savio tore La Liga to shreds.
No one expected lowly Girona to be much of a concern before the season began but City’s sister club were a complete surprise package who put up a stiffer fight for the title than Barcelona.
Girona eventually finished third, qualifying for the Champions League, and Savio was crucial to that remarkable accomplishment.
The prodigy got 21 goal contributions (11 goals and 10 assists) with only top scorer Artem Dovbyk getting more for the side. He was named in the La Liga team of the season.
Savio is still young and raw and has plenty of developing to do but he is clearly already an excellent player.
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Praise for Savinho
Girona boss Michel – who has been suggested as a potential Guardiola replacement if he leaves City – praised Savio to the hilt in September and he has only gone on to prove him right since.
Michel told Cadena SER, via Football Espana: “The sporting department had already been following him since the last under-20 World Cup.
“The images we had of him are very good. He had not been successful at PSV and he was not happy. We saw him at the World Cup because we followed him and we had the feeling that he could help us.”
“I know they are big words, but since the emergence of Vinicius I don’t think I have seen a one-on-one talent as destabilising as him.”
Speaking at the end of the season, Michel said: “When I saw Savio on first training session I said: ‘We’re gonna play in Europe next season’. He’s special. He’s the best player I’ve ever had.”
Barcelona sporting director Deco said in 2023: “Spanish football likes this type of player with dribbling ability,” he told the Esporte Espetacular TV show, as quoted by Sport.
“In Spain, people love having the opportunity to watch beautiful football, with players of technical quality, and Savio fits into this historical profile that Spanish football has always had.
“He is at the beginning of his career and is attracting attention, he is a young player who has a lot of future. If he continues in this line of growth he will be very successful in Spain.”
Why Man City were allowed to sign Savinho despite UEFA rules
The transfer angered some corners of football fandom, especially Manchester United supporters.
UEFA rules state that clubs that have the same owners and are competing in the same competition are not allowed to sell players between them.
As a result, United’s proposed move for Nice – also owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and also competing in the Europa League next season – centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo looks highly unlikely.
This led to some questioning why City were able to sign Savio given he played for their sister club Girona, who are also in the Champions League next season.
However, since his parent club was Troyes the deal did not break UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules.
Savinho club history
Savio came through the youth ranks at Atletico Mineiro before CFG got wind of his talent and signed him to French side Troyes.
He has never played for the struggling Ligue 2 club, who only just avoided relegation to the third tier, and has instead spent the last two years out on loan.
- Atletico Mineiro: 2018-2022
- Troyes: 2022-Present
- PSV Eindhoven: 2022-2023 (loan)
- Girona: 2023-2024 (loan)
Savinho stats
Savinho Man City stats
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 2024/25 | 37 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
Savinho pre-Man City stats
| Season | Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 2019/20 | Atletico Mineiro | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020/21 | Atletico Mineiro | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021/22 | Atletico Mineiro | 14 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022/23 | PSV | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023/24 | Girona | 41 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | N/A | 86 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 0 |
International stats for Brazil
| Caps | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards |
| 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Trophies and honours
Despite his tender years, Savio already has several winners’ medals on his mantle piece.
Man City trophies won
- x1 Community Shield – 2024
Atletico Mineiro trophies won
- 1x Brazilian Championship – 2021
- 1x Brazilian Cup – 2021
PSV trophies won
- 1x Dutch Cup – 2022/23
- 1x Dutch Super Cup – 2023
International trophies won
- 1x Under-20 South American Championship – 2023
- 1x Under-15 South American Championship – 2019
Individual honours
- La Liga U23 Player of the Month – January 2024
- La Liga Team of the Season – 2023-24
