The Portland Timbers have announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Evander as a designated player on Monday morning, after rumors had been circulating for weeks that the club were closing in on the 24-year-old. According to the Timbers’ official announcement of the deal, the former Midtjylland man has put pen to paper on a contract that will see him in green and gold until 2026, with an option to extend a further year.
Evander comes to the Pacific Northwest with high expectations after making his mark in the Danish Superliga, as well as the UEFA Europa League, where his tally of five assists this season leads the continental competition. In all, the attacker boasts a tally of 50 goals and 38 assists in 167 appearances across all competitions with the prestigious Danish side.
“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition and signing of our new Designated Player, Evander,” said the Timbers technical director, Ned Grabavoy. He continued, “It was clear from the beginning stages of this process that this was a great opportunity for both Evander and the Portland Timbers. He is a player with natural ability, capable of making an impact, and has already proven himself at a good standard. We see him as an integral part of the club’s future and look forward to seeing him in Green and Gold soon.”
Timbers Head Coach Gio Savarese also expressed his excitement for the arrival of the highly-skilled Brazilian. “His experience in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League allows us to believe that he will be able to adapt quickly to the MLS competition. I am looking forward to incorporate Evander and start working with him to build a stronger team for the next season,” Savarese said.
The PTFC faithful will hope to see more signings in the near future as the club looks to rejoin the elite Western Conference teams after a disappointing 2022 campaign. With question marks surrounding the ability of current designated players Yimmi Chara and Jaroslaw Niezgoda, Evander’s arrival could signal the start of wholesale changes in the attacking half of the pitch for the Cascadia club.