Real Madrid’s signing spree continues as Bernardo Silva joins
By Luke Oluoch, June 17, 2026Real Madrid’s rebuilding ahead of the return of Jose Mourinho remains on course with the signing of former Manchester City skipper Bernardo Silva on a free transfer.
The 31-year-old’s contract at City expired at the end of last season, and he was among the major departees from Etihad as Pep Guardiola also called time on his decade-long stay at the club.
Silva has signed a two-year deal at Real, who have already added Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella and extended the contract of centre-back Antonio Rüdiger following the return of manager Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho’s reunion was confirmed by club president Florentino Perez after he won the club election in May 2026, extending his tenure at the helm of the club.
Agreement reached
“Real Madrid and Bernardo Silva have reached an agreement for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2028,” a statement from Real Madrid read on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.
The Portugal international, 31, won six Premier League titles and one Champions League during his nine seasons with City. He was the subject of assistant manager Pep Lijnders’ praises after City’s 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool back in May.
“You never replace a player with the same kind of player, because they don’t exist. Bernardo Silva is unique. The way he controls games, the way he moves, the way he receives, the way he leads, the way he sees the solutions, all these things,” he said.
He becomes the second English Premier League star to join the club after the Chelsea and Spanish international.
Cucurella’s switch from Chelsea to Real Madrid was made official on Monday, June 15, 2026, with the 2024 European Championship winner set to link up with the Los Blancos after the 2026 World Cup.
Cucurella joins Los Blancos
Cucurella was also a target for Madrid’s rivals, Atletico and Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. He, however, chose allegiance to the capital-based team over a return to the Catalan giants.
The marauding left back rose through the youth ranks of Spanish football to become a serial winner with Chelsea in the English Premier League. He first moved from Espanyol’s academy to Barcelona in 2012, where he honed his skills through the La Masia football system.
He first signed for Brighton in 2021, before the west Londoners, Chelsea, snapped him up for a record fee.