Bernardo Silva reportedly willing to halve wages to join Barcelona in 2026 free transfer
Latest transfer update: Bernardo Silva is said to be prepared to accept roughly €8m a year — about half his Manchester City pay — to join Barcelona as a free agent when his contract expires on June 30, 2026.
Bernardo Silva is reportedly prepared to take a sizeable pay cut to move to Barcelona when his contract with Manchester City expires on June 30, 2026, according to a Portuguese report summarised by World Soccer Talk. The report says Silva could accept a salary in the region of €8 million per year — roughly half the amount he has been earning at City — to secure a switch to the Catalan club as a free agent.
Why it matters
If accurate, a decision by Silva to halve his annual pay would be a major personal sacrifice and would make a high-profile move to Barcelona more feasible despite the club’s reported financial limits. Silva’s availability as a free agent following the 2026 World Cup would give Barcelona the chance to add an experienced, creative midfielder without paying a transfer fee — a significant factor for a club alleged to be constrained by budget.
What the report says
According to the Portuguese outlet A Bola, as summarised by World Soccer Talk, Silva’s current contract at Manchester City — last renewed in 2023 — paid him around €16 million per year. A Bola says Barcelona’s proposed deal would be a more modest two-year contract with an option for a third, at about €8 million annually. The report adds that a signing bonus could partially offset the lost wages.
Other potential destinations mentioned
World Soccer Talk also notes that other clubs are reportedly interested in Silva if a Barcelona move does not materialise. Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano is cited as saying clubs from the Saudi Pro League have shown interest, and Inter Miami has also been mentioned as an option. The story frames these as alternatives motivated by differing sporting and financial priorities.
Squad and tactical implications for Barcelona
The report suggests that, should Barcelona complete a deal for Silva, he would join a midfield that already includes Pedri, Gavi, Fermin López and Dani Olmo. How manager Hansi Flick might integrate Silva alongside those players is not specified in the source material, but the addition would add another experienced attacking-midfield option to Barcelona’s squad.
- Bernardo Silva’s Manchester City contract expires on 30 June 2026 (report).
- A Bola reports Silva could accept around €8m per year to join Barcelona — roughly half his City salary.
- Barcelona’s proposed deal is described as two years with an option for a third (report).
- Reports mention possible interest from Saudi Pro League clubs and Inter Miami (per Fabrizio Romano).
- A signing bonus is cited as a potential way to offset lower annual wages (report).
Verification and missing details
The available reporting is second-hand and attributes the salary figures and contract length to A Bola. There is no direct quote from Silva, Manchester City, Barcelona, or any club in the supplied source. Important details that remain unconfirmed include whether Barcelona have made a formal offer, the exact terms of any contract, whether Silva has agreed to a signing bonus, and whether competing clubs have submitted official proposals.
What happens next
If Barcelona wish to secure Silva on a free transfer they will need to conclude talks and agree formal terms — including any signing bonus — before he departs Manchester City on 30 June 2026. Meanwhile, interest from other clubs means Barcelona could face competition for his signature, particularly if offers from outside Europe include significantly higher wages.