Pep Lijnders confirmed Bernardo Silva's departure

Manchester City assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has confirmed that Bernardo Silva will leave the Etihad when the campaign concludes, ending months of speculation surrounding the Portuguese star’s future. Speaking after City’s victory over Liverpool, Lijnders described the midfielder’s exit as the closing chapter of a remarkable story, emphasising the club’s desire to give him a fitting farewell.

He underlined Bernardo’s irreplaceable qualities—his control of tempo, spatial awareness, leadership and problem‑solving—while noting that City will not pursue a like‑for‑like successor, instead turning to their academy and relying on the squad’s veteran core to absorb the loss.

Bernardo, signed from Monaco in 2017, has been central to City’s modern dominance, producing 450 appearances, 76 goals, 73 assists and 18 trophies. Despite a reduced role this season, he remains influential and could still depart with another Premier League title and a potential FA Cup finale.