£85m Man City signing Savio lights up Spurs debut in Carabao Cup

Brazilian forward Savio, signed from Manchester City on Monday for £85 million, made his Tottenham debut in the Carabao Cup, coming off the bench to score a goal and provide an assist within nineteen minutes as Spurs thrashed Charlton to progress to the third round.

Tottenham Hotspur completed the £85 million signing of Brazilian forward Savio from Manchester City on Monday. The fee makes him one of the most expensive attacking acquisitions for the club.

Savio entered the Carabao Cup tie against Charlton Athletic as a substitute and, within nineteen minutes, recorded both a goal and an assist. He claimed Tottenham’s fourth goal with a low finish after a dribble, while a second solo effort clipped Ben Davies and was credited as the visitors’ fifth. The performance offered an immediate answer to critics of the price tag.

De Zerbi’s cup ambition

Manager Roberto De Zerbi stressed that the Carabao Cup holds equal importance to the Premier League as the team seeks a winning habit. He highlighted the summer recruitment drive, which added players such as Savio, Omar Marmoush, Andy Robertson and Sandro Tonali to a squad built on a culture of success.

Tottenham De Zerbi finds relief as Spurs bounce back in Cup

Other debutants also made an impact. Mikey Moore displayed teenage exuberance on the right wing, Mateus Fernandes delivered a solid midfield debut, and Dominic Solanke opened his season’s scoring account. Kevin Danso scored his first Tottenham goal with a header from a free‑kick, despite colliding with a defender and playing on with taped wounds.

Charlton’s injury crisis

Charlton Athletic, who began the season with three straight wins, made ten changes under Nathan Jones, with Billy Koumetio the sole survivor of the previous lineup. Central defenders Collins Sichenje and Koumetio both left the field within fifteen minutes after injuries, the former exiting on a stretcher.

The victory moves Tottenham into the last 32 of the Carabao Cup, providing a morale boost after a disappointing opening‑day loss at Brentford. De Zerbi’s side will travel to Newcastle for an N17 clash on Saturday, aiming to extend the cup run in the absence of a European campaign.

The match report was compiled by MATT BARLOW, FOOTBALL WRITER, on 26 August 2026. The article records the Brazilian’s debut impact and the broader implications for Tottenham’s season.