Bournemouth sign Portugal defender Antonio Silva in £25.7m transfer
Bournemouth have completed the signing of Portugal international centre-back Antonio Silva from Benfica in a deal worth up to £25.7m.
The initial transfer fee for the 22-year-old is set at £21.4m, with a further £4.3m structured in potential performance-related add-ons.
The Cherries entered the market for a commanding central defender following the summer departure of Marcos Senesi.
Preferring to operate on the left side of central defence, the tall and technically gifted ball-player perfectly fits the positional void left by his predecessor.
Proven winner brings European pedigree
Despite his relatively young age, the Portuguese centre-half amassed an impressive 237 appearances during his tenure with the Lisbon giants.
He has already earned 20 senior caps for his country, featuring at both the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 European Championship.
The highly rated defender boasts a total of six career titles, including lifting the Uefa Nations League trophy with his national side last year.
Furthermore, he was recognised as the outstanding defensive player in the Portuguese top flight during the 2022-23 campaign.
Building a resilient backline
Bournemouth officials view their new acquisition as a crucial addition who possesses both elite European experience and a hardened winning mentality.