Bernardo Silva To Exit Manchester City After Nine Years
His historic nine-year spell under Pep Guardiola delivered 19 major trophies and a 2022-23 treble.
Summary
- Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season following a nine-year tenure
- The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder joined from Monaco in 2017 and has secured 19 trophies with the team, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory
- Silva, who holds the record for the most appearances under manager Pep Guardiola with 451 matches, expressed his lifelong support for the club in a farewell message
After nearly a decade of dismantling Premier League defenses and cementing his status as a midfield maestro, Bernardo Silva is officially closing his chapter at the Etihad. The 31-year-old Portuguese icon announced his exit from Manchester City at the end of the current season in May. Arriving from Monaco in July 2017 for a reported £43.5 million, the playmaker evolved into the tactical heartbeat of the squad. This departure signals the sunset of a generational run that completely redefined modern English football.
Silva’s tenure in sky blue is nothing short of legendary. Racking up 451 appearances — the absolute highest of any player under Pep Guardiola — he became the ultimate trusted orchestrator on the pitch. Finding the back of the net 76 times and serving up 77 assists only scratches the surface of his actual influence. Over nine years, the dynamic midfielder helped stock the trophy cabinet with 19 major honors. Highlights from his decorated stint include six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, five League Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup, and the immortal 2022-23 treble.
Beyond his individual metrics, the veteran embodied the relentless winning mentality of the “Centurions” squad that smashed the 100-point barrier during the 2017-18 campaign. Serving as a key member of the generational success orchestrated by his manager, his presence on the pitch provided the consistency required to secure a record-breaking four consecutive domestic league crowns. Releasing an emotional statement, the captain described fulfilling his childhood dreams and branded himself a “City supporter for life.” He emphasized a fierce desire to leave everything on the pitch during his final weeks, fighting for whatever remaining silverware the current campaign holds.
Devoted supporters will soon have an opportunity to give their captain his rightful flowers. The front office confirmed that an official farewell ceremony is currently in the works to honor a player who arrived as a promising talent and leaves as a bonafide club legend. As the roster pushes through the grueling final stretch of the season, all eyes will be locked on the Portuguese star while he takes his final bows in Manchester.
