Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Brazilian winger Savio Moreira de Oliveira from Manchester City on August 25, following their 3-0 defeat to Brentford in their Premier League opener three days earlier [1, 2, 3].
Savio, previously known as Savinho, has chosen to revert to the simpler name on his jersey and will wear the number 17 shirt for Spurs [1, 2, 3]. The transfer fee was reported as £75 million, potentially rising to £85 million with add-ons, marking a record sale for Manchester City [3].
The signing is part of Tottenham's aggressive summer spending spree totaling £322 million, which has also included midfielders Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, plus defenders Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke [1, 2].
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi, appointed to a long-term contract in March 2026, stressed the team must develop a winning mentality after their heavy defeat to Brentford. "For me it's like the Premier League. We are not in the position to make differences. We need to get used to winning the matches," he said [1]. He added that the environment and mindset around the club must change, calling it a challenge to "become a team" [1].
De Zerbi praised Savio’s ability in one-on-one situations and his versatility on either wing. "If you analyse the best wingers in the world they score 10-15 goals a season and he has the qualities," he stated [1]. Savio scored seven goals in all competitions, including two in the Premier League, in 53 appearances for Manchester City [3].
The manager also downplayed the significance of the player's name change from Savinho to Savio, quipping that it was "not a problem" for him [3].
Tottenham’s next fixture is the League Cup second-round match against Charlton Athletic, scheduled for August 26. De Zerbi considers the League Cup as important as the Premier League [1, 2]. New captain Micky van de Ven and right back Pedro Porro, returning from injury and World Cup duty respectively, are expected to be available for the game [1, 2]. Midfielder James Maddison is sidelined with a minor shoulder injury [1, 2].
