Manchester City complete €50m signing of midfielder João Neves from Benfica
Manchester City have signed Portuguese midfielder João Neves from Benfica in a deal worth €50m (£42.5m), the Premier League champions confirmed on Thursday. The 19-year-old has signed a four-year contract at the Etihad Stadium with an option for a further 12 months.
Neves becomes City's first major signing of the summer after emerging as one of Europe's most promising young talents during Benfica's 2023-24 Primeira Liga campaign. The Portugal international made 35 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing 4 goals and 7 assists from central midfield.
The transfer resolves City's prolonged pursuit of midfield reinforcement following İlkay Gündoğan's 2023 departure to Barcelona. Neves' ability to operate as both a deep-lying playmaker and box-to-box midfielder reportedly made him a priority target for manager Pep Guardiola.
Benfica will receive an initial €45m with €5m in performance-related add-ons, according to Portuguese outlet Record. The Lisbon club retains a 10% sell-on clause for any future transfer. Neves' departure follows Benfica's recent policy of developing and selling young talent, having transferred Enzo Fernández to Chelsea for €121m in January 2023.
For City, the signing continues their strategy of recruiting technically gifted midfielders suited to Guardiola's possession-based system. Neves is expected to compete with Mateo Kovačić and Matheus Nunes for a starting role alongside Rodri in City's engine room. His arrival could also allow Bernardo Silva to return to a more advanced position.
The move marks another step in Neves' rapid rise after only making his professional debut in January 2023. He earned his first Portugal cap last September and was part of their Euro 2024 squad. City's recruitment team reportedly tracked his progress throughout last season's Champions League campaign, where Benfica reached the quarter-finals.