It is the end of an era at the Etihad. Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the close of the 2025-26 season, drawing the curtain on nine extraordinary years that transformed him from a promising arrival from Monaco into one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
The 31-year-old Portuguese international has confirmed he will not be renewing his deal, and the departure has already triggered serious interest from clubs across Europe and England. His agent Jorge Mendes is understood to be in discussions with multiple top-flight clubs, and it is looking increasingly likely that Silva's next destination will be abroad rather than a rival Premier League side.
The Clubs in the Frame
Juventus appear to be frontrunners at this stage, with the Turin giants having held advanced talks over a potential deal. Barcelona — long-term admirers of Silva who have pursued him at various points over the past few years — remain in the picture, and Real Madrid have also been approached by Mendes as he works through his options. Arsenal and Chelsea have both been offered the chance to sign him, though the player's own preference is thought to lean towards a move to the continent rather than staying in England.
It is a remarkable list of suitors for a player turning 32 this summer, but then again Bernardo Silva is a remarkable footballer. The numbers and accolades he leaves behind at City are staggering.
What He Leaves Behind
Since joining City in 2017, Silva has been at the heart of one of the most dominant eras in English football history. Under Pep Guardiola he won six Premier League titles — contributing meaningfully to each campaign — and was part of the squad that claimed the UEFA Champions League trophy, completing a historic treble. His technical quality, his relentless energy and his ability to read the game at pace made him a player Guardiola routinely cited as one of the best he has ever worked with.
There were moments where a departure looked possible sooner — Barcelona tried hard on more than one occasion — but Silva stayed loyal to the project each time, and City supporters will be grateful that he did. He gave the club everything, and leaves with his legacy firmly intact.
What Comes Next
Whoever lands Silva this summer will be getting a player who is still operating at a very high level. His performances in the 2025-26 season, even as City have endured a difficult campaign by their standards, have shown no signs of deterioration. For Juventus, Barcelona or Real Madrid — whichever club wins the race — this would represent a genuine coup at a zero transfer fee.
For City, the challenge now is to navigate life without one of their most important players of the modern era. A new chapter begins at the Etihad this summer, and it will be one that many supporters approach with mixed feelings about what is being left behind.
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