Bernardo Silva has confirmed that he will leave Manchester City at the end of this season, bringing down the curtain on one of the most decorated spells in the club’s history.
The Portuguese midfielder confirmed his departure in an emotional letter to supporters earlier today, April 16, reflecting on a journey that began in 2017 and evolved into a defining chapter of City’s modern era.
Outgoing Manchester City star, Bernardo Silva posing with the UEFA Champions League trophy.
In his farewell message, Silva wrote:
“Cityzens, when I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things.
“This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart. The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad.
“In a few months it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!
“To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget. My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch. I hope you felt that every single game. I arrived as a Man City player, I leave as one more of you, a Man City supporter for life. Keep supporting this young team and I’m pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future.
“To the club, Pep, the staff and all my teammates these 9 years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long. The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.”
City later confirmed the decision in an official statement, revealing the 31-year-old will depart this summer after 451 appearances and 19 major trophies.
During his time in England, Silva helped City dominate the Premier League and conquer Europe, lifting the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup and multiple Carabao Cup titles. His honours list also includes the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Silva’s 76 goals and 77 assists underline his impact, while he recently moved into the club’s top 10 all-time appearance makers, surpassing former stars David Silva, Paul Power and Willie Donachie.
The midfielder captained City to the 2026 Carabao Cup title against Arsenal and will now aim to finish strongly under Pep Guardiola, with the club still chasing domestic silverware before his exit.
