Bournemouth’s £25m hunt for defensive stability lands on Antonio Silva

Bournemouth are set to complete the signing of 22‑year‑old defender Antonio Silva from Portuguese side Benfica for £25 million, with a medical pending, as a direct replacement for Marcos Senesi who left on a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur last month.

The Cherries are seeking defensive stability after a rebuild that saw Dean Huijsen, Illia Zabarnyi, Milos Kerkez and Kepa Arrizabalaga depart twelve months ago.

Bournemouth managed a historic European finish last season, but that success sparked interest in several key players and the club rebuffed a £64 million bid from Chelsea for midfielder Alex Scott earlier this month.

Silva will undergo a medical and arrives as a replacement for Senesi, having previously been linked with a high‑profile Premier League move, with Bournemouth winning the race to secure his signature.

The defender’s arrival is part of the club’s plan to shore up the centre‑back position, a priority for many top‑flight English sides this summer.

Senesi entered the final year of his contract at the Vitality Stadium, rejected a new deal and moved to Tottenham Hotspur, leaving Bournemouth with a clear vacancy in central defence.

Antonio Silva is Bournemouth’s second summer signing, following the capture of striker Alvaro Rodriguez from Elche.

Defence has been a hot commodity across the Premier League, with Tottenham Hotspur spending £52 million on Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton, Brighton splashing cash for Luka Vuskovic, Leeds United investing in Tarik Muharemovic, and Chelsea adding Maxence Lacroix while rumored to target Brest youngster Raphael Le Guen.

For Bournemouth, Silva provides a long‑term solution to a position that has seen significant turnover, bolstering the Cherries’ defensive options for the upcoming Premier League campaign.