Manchester City confirmed the acquisition of Brazilian winger Savinho on Thursday from Troyes, a French club under the same parent company as the English champions.
Savinho showcased his talent last season while on loan at Girona, another club within the City Football Group (CFG). The 20-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract with City, with reports indicating a transfer fee of 40 million euros (£31m, $44 million).
Despite his affiliation with Troyes in Ligue 2, Savinho did not feature in any matches for the club. Initially signed from Atletico Mineiro in 2022, he was promptly loaned to PSV Eindhoven. Over the past year, the Brazilian international impressed in La Liga, contributing nine goals and ten assists to Girona's third-place finish, securing their inaugural qualification for the Champions League.
Expressing his enthusiasm in a statement from Manchester City, Savinho said, "It's incredibly exciting for me to join the best team in the world right now. I look forward to learning under Pep Guardiola, one of the greatest coaches ever, who I know will help me grow even further. After a fantastic experience in Spain, I am eager for the challenge of playing in the Premier League alongside some of the world's top players."
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Nevertheless, the transfer arrangement has sparked discussions on the fairness of ownership structures involving multiple clubs. CFG holds interests in 12 clubs spanning five continents globally.
Earlier this month, UEFA approved both Manchester City and Girona for participation in the Champions League, alongside Manchester United and Nice, both owned by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos company, who were cleared to compete in the Europa League.
