Antonio Silva to Bournemouth: Benfica and Portugal defender is Premier League ready and a good fit for Marco Rose

There was a time when Antonio Silva's rise to the top appeared an inevitability. He was only 18 years old when he scored his first Champions League goal for Benfica in a 4-3 win over Juventus. He played at the 2022 World Cup for Portugal soon after that.

Since then, Silva had been linked with Europe's biggest clubs but it is Bournemouth who have signed him from Benfica. In truth, excluded from Portugal's squad this summer, his momentum has stalled. However, aged 22, there is time for this move to ignite his career.

Sure, there are grander destinations. But Bournemouth have emerged as one of the best recruiters of talent - proving themselves particularly adept at developing defenders. Silva is entitled to believe he can be the next to flourish for the Cherries.

Illia Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen left for Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, respectively, just one year ago. Marcos Senesi has since moved to Tottenham. Silva is special enough to impress every bit as much as his predecessors on the south coast.