Portugal: Bernardo Silva, captain of Manchester City, will depart the club at the end of the current season, assistant manager Pep Lijnders has confirmed.
Speaking after City’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Liverpool FC in the FA Cup quarterfinal, Lijnders acknowledged the midfielder’s impending exit. Lijnders remarked that, “Every good story comes to an end. I hope he enjoys the last months, there are only six weeks left and he has a good farewell. He deserves all that attention.”
The 31-year-old Portugal international will leave as a free agent when his contract expires at the end of the 2025–26 campaign, bringing an end to a glittering nine-year spell at the Etihad Stadium. Signed from AS Monaco in 2017 for a reported $57.35 million, Silva has made 450 appearances for City, playing a pivotal role in one of the most successful eras in the club’s history. Under manager Pep Guardiola, he has won six Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, earning widespread praise for his versatility, technical brilliance and relentless work rate.
Guardiola, who was serving a touchline suspension during the match, has previously described Silva as ‘irreplaceable,’ underlining his importance to the squad. City, who lifted the League Cup last month, remain in contention for a domestic treble. Despite trailing league leaders Arsenal FC by nine points, they have a game in hand and eight matches remaining in the title race.
Meanwhile, Silva’s departure follows another major exit from the Premier League’s top clubs. Mohamed Salah recently confirmed he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. The 33-year-old Egyptian forward announced the decision through a video message shared on social media. Salah remarked that, “Unfortunately, the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell.”
Since joining Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, Salah has cemented his legacy as one of the club’s greatest players. Salah has scored 255 goals in 435 appearances, making him the club’s third-highest all-time scorer, while winning multiple major honours, including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups.
Salah has also claimed the Premier League Golden Boot four times, further highlighting his impact during a trophy-laden spell at Anfield. As the season enters its final weeks, the departures of Silva and Salah mark the end of an era for two of the Premier League’s most dominant clubs.
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