Bebé is one of football’s most remarkable stories.
A winger who grew up in a church shelter near Lisbon, he earned a £7.4 million move to Manchester United at just 20 years old — without his manager ever watching him play.
If you want the full picture of Bebé’s net worth, including his salary, contracts, and career earnings, you’re in the right place.
Bebé’s Biography
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Tiago Manuel Dias Correia |
| Date of Birth | 12 July 1990 |
| Age | 35 years old |
| Nationality | Cape Verde |
| Country of Birth | Portugal |
| Height | 190 cm (6 ft 3 in) |
| Weight | 86 kg |
| Position | Winger / Attacking Midfielder |
| Current Club | UD Ibiza (Primera Federación) |
| Turned Professional | 2009 |
| Net Worth | ~$2.5 million (estimated) |
| Annual Salary | ~€280,000 (last known, Rayo Vallecano) |
Early Life & Career
Bebé’s story begins far from the bright lights of Old Trafford. Born in Agualva-Cacém, a suburb near Lisbon, he was abandoned by his parents at a young age.
His grandmother raised him until he was 12, after which a court placed him in the care of the Catholic Church at the Casa do Gaiato shelter in Santo Antão do Tojal. Life there was humble, but football gave him a path forward.
In 2009, Bebé joined Estrela da Amadora in Portugal’s Segunda Divisão on a professional contract, making his mark as the club’s standout player with four goals in 26 league matches.
His club was in financial trouble, unable to pay his modest wages, and even offered him to PSV Eindhoven for free in May 2010 — an offer PSV rejected because they had never heard of him.
When Estrela stopped paying him altogether, Bebé broke his contract and signed for Vitória de Guimarães in the summer of 2010.
He was so impressive in pre-season that the club raised his release clause from €3 million to €9 million — a decision that would spark one of the most surprising transfers in Premier League history.
Professional Career
Just five weeks after joining Vitória de Guimarães, Manchester United paid approximately £7.4 million to sign Bebé in August 2010 — a transfer fee that shocked the football world when Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he had never personally watched the player.
Bebé went on to win the Premier League title in his debut season (2010–11), scoring in both the League Cup and the Champions League during that campaign.
Unable to break into the United first team consistently, he went on loan to Beşiktaş, Rio Ave, and Paços de Ferreira, where his 14-goal season for Paços in 2013–14 revived his reputation.
In July 2014, Benfica signed him permanently and he won the Primeira Liga title and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in his first season with the Lisbon club.
He later joined Eibar in Spain’s La Liga on a four-year deal before making a permanent return to Rayo Vallecano in 2018. Rayo became his spiritual home — he made 133 total appearances across all his stints with the Madrid club, scoring 18 goals.
After a loan at Real Zaragoza and a brief spell with Racing de Ferrol, Bebé signed a six-month deal with UD Ibiza in February 2025, reuniting with coach Paco Jémez.
At international level, Bebé switched allegiances from Portugal Under-21 to the Cape Verde senior team in 2022.
He represented Cape Verde at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring in a 3–0 win over Mozambique. He has made 26 appearances for Cape Verde, scoring 6 international goals as of November 2024.
Bebé’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Bebé’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $2.5 million.
He built this wealth over 16 years of professional football across Portugal, England, Turkey, and Spain, collecting salaries from major clubs including Manchester United, Benfica, Eibar, and Rayo Vallecano.
Contract
Bebé signed a six-month contract with UD Ibiza in February 2025, taking him through June 2026.
According to BeSoccer, this deal came after his contract with Racing de Ferrol was terminated in February 2025.
His market value as of early 2026 stands at approximately €300,000, a reflection of his age and current level of competition in Spain’s third tier.
At his peak, Bebé signed a four-year deal with Eibar in 2016 and a three-year permanent contract with Rayo Vallecano in 2018. His total transfer dealings across his career have amounted to approximately €14 million.
Salary
According to salary tracking data, Bebé earned approximately £6,972 per week (around £362,547 per year) during the 2024–25 season at Rayo Vallecano — his highest recorded annual salary.
His last confirmed annual salary with Rayo was approximately €280,000 per year (around €23,000 per month), according to Fichajes.
His current deal with UD Ibiza is believed to be significantly lower given the club’s financial scale in Spain’s Primera Federación.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Club | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | Manchester United | ~£600,000 |
| 2011–12 | Beşiktaş (loan) | ~£400,000 |
| 2012–13 | Rio Ave (loan) | ~£150,000 |
| 2013–14 | Paços de Ferreira (loan) | ~£150,000 |
| 2014–16 | Benfica | ~€500,000/yr |
| 2016–18 | Eibar | ~€500,000/yr |
| 2018–24 | Rayo Vallecano | €241,000–€362,000/yr |
| 2024–25 | Racing Ferrol / Ibiza | Undisclosed/reduced |
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | League Apps | League Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrela da Amadora | 2009–10 | 26 | 4 | 27 | 4 |
| Vitória de Guimarães | 2010–11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Manchester United | 2010–14 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Beşiktaş (loan) | 2011–12 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Rio Ave (loan) | 2012–13 | 17 | 1 | 19 | 2 |
| Paços de Ferreira (loan) | 2013–14 | 27 | 12 | 39 | 14 |
| Benfica | 2014–16 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Córdoba (loan) | 2014–15 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Rayo Vallecano (all) | 2015–2024 | 117 | 13 | 133 | 18 |
| Eibar | 2016–19 | 31 | 3 | 39 | 5 |
| Zaragoza (loan) | 2022–23 | 16 | 4 | 16 | 4 |
| Career Total | — | 310 | 43 | 362 | 55 |
International (Cape Verde)
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7 | 3 |
| 2023 | 9 | 2 |
| 2024 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 26 | 6 |
FAQs
What is Bebé’s net worth?
Bebé’s estimated net worth is around $2.5 million. He earned this through professional contracts in England, Portugal, Turkey, and Spain over a 16-year career.
What is Bebé’s current salary?
His last publicly known annual salary was approximately €280,000 per year with Rayo Vallecano. His current deal with UD Ibiza is undisclosed but likely lower given the club’s level in Spanish football.
Which club does Bebé play?
Bebé currently plays for UD Ibiza in Spain’s Primera Federación — the third tier of Spanish football. He signed with the club in February 2025 on a deal running through June 2026.
How much did Manchester United pay for Bebé?
Manchester United paid approximately £7.4 million — reported as €9 million in Portugal — to sign Bebé from Vitória de Guimarães in August 2010, despite Sir Alex Ferguson never having watched him play.
What national team does Bebé represent?
Bebé represents Cape Verde at international level. Though born in Portugal and a former Portuguese Under-21 international, he switched allegiances to Cape Verde in 2022 due to his Cape Verdean ancestry. He scored at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
