Bernardo Silva has officially signed a two-year contract with Real Madrid following his departure from Manchester City, the Spanish club confirmed on Tuesday.

The 31-year-old Portuguese midfielder, who revealed in April that he would leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season, will join Real Madrid once his contract with City expires later this month.

In a statement released on the LaLiga club’s official website, Real Madrid said: “Real Madrid CF and Bernardo Silva have reached an agreement for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2028.”

The former Benfica star had been linked with a move to Madrid ever since his planned exit from Manchester City was announced. Securing him on a free transfer is seen as a major coup for the Spanish giants, considering his proven quality and consistent ability to influence matches at the highest level.

Silva, who joined Manchester City from Monaco in May 2017 for a reported £43 million, spent nine successful years under Pep Guardiola’s management at the Etihad. The Portuguese international played a central role in City’s domination of English football during that time.

Over his nine seasons, Silva collected a total of 20 trophies — the most recent being the 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea at Wembley in May. His remarkable list of honours includes six Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, five Carabao Cups, a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup.

In a farewell message posted on Instagram in April, Silva expressed deep gratitude to the club and its fans. He wrote: “When I arrived nine 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.”

Silva’s move marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in Manchester City’s history and the beginning of a new adventure for one of Europe’s most technically gifted midfielders at Real Madrid.