Bernardo Silva
Attacking Midfielder · Manchester City · Portugal
About Bernardo Silva
Bernardo Silva is one of the most complete midfielders of his generation — a former Manchester City and Portugal star renowned for his intelligence, close control and tactical versatility. Nine trophy-laden years under Pep Guardiola, including the 2023 Champions League and six Premier League titles, brought him to Real Madrid on a free transfer in the summer of 2026, where he now begins a new chapter under Jose Mourinho.
Bernardo Silva's story
Lisbon Roots
Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva was born on 10 August 1994 in Lisbon. His parents enrolled him in an English-speaking school from the age of six — a decision that left him fluent in English long before he ever set foot in the Premier League. He joined Benfica's academy as a boy, developing through the club's junior ranks and winning the Portuguese Juniors Championship in 2013. Football runs in the family in an unusual way: his cousin, Matilde Fidalgo, plays for Portugal's women's national team and, fittingly, Manchester City Women — the same club Silva would go on to represent for nine seasons.
The Monaco Breakthrough
Silva made his Benfica B debut in August 2013, immediately winning the Segunda Liga's Breakthrough Player of the Year award. But it was a loan move to Monaco in August 2014 — made permanent for €15.75m in January 2015 — that truly launched his career. He became a key figure as Monaco won the 2016–17 Ligue 1 title, contributing 8 goals and 9 assists in 58 matches and helping knock Manchester City out of the Champions League along the way, a run that caught the eye of the very club he would join a few months later.
Nine Years, Sixteen Trophies
Manchester City signed Silva in May 2017 for around €50m, and he became one of the most decorated players in Premier League history: six league titles, three FA Cups, four EFL Cups and the 2023 Champions League as part of City's continental treble. He was named Manchester City's Player of the Year in 2018–19 and made two PFA Team of the Year selections. With Portugal, he has been capped over 100 times, reaching that milestone in March 2025, and has won two UEFA Nations League titles — 2019, when he was named Player of the Tournament, and 2025.
A Fresh Start in Madrid
Silva's Manchester City contract expired at the end of the 2025–26 season, and in June 2026 he completed a free transfer to Real Madrid on a two-year deal under new boss Jose Mourinho. He made his debut off the bench in a pre-season friendly against Ferencváros on 8 August, turned 32 two days later, and heads into the new season being reshaped into Mourinho's midfield pivot — even as his manager pushes him to sharpen his fitness after what he called a “fairly low physical level” on arrival.
Did you know?
- 🐶 Owns a French Bulldog named John — after his former Manchester City teammate John Stones.
- 🗣️ Speaks four languages fluently: Portuguese, English, French and Spanish.
- 🏆 Won the UEFA Nations League with Portugal twice — in 2019, when he was named Player of the Tournament, and again in 2025.
- 🎂 His Benfica B debut, on 10 August 2013, fell on his own 19th birthday.
- 💍 Married Inês Tomaz in July 2023.
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