Timbers Signing Evander Was Wanted By Turkish Giants Galatasaray

High-level Brazilian playmakers are a soccer club's dream, but they don't come around all that often. However, that is exactly what the Portland Timbers have secured by wrapping up a club-record deal for Midtjylland attacking midfielder Evander this week. The club announced on Monday that the ink has dried on a contract that will see Evander wear the green and gold shirt until 2026, with an option for another season after that.

Evander leaves Denmark after a successful spell in which he racked up a bundle of goals and assists, and registered interested from a number of clubs around Europe. His mission is clear from the off, drive the Timbers back up the standings in Major League Soccer after a disappointing 2022 campaign, which saw the club fail to make the playoffs by one point.

Based on his underlying numbers and what we've seen from the Brazilian in his days as a Midtjylland player, he could be just the man the club needs to achieve that goal. However, the margins in this deal have turned out to be slimmer than expected. In speaking to the media for the first time Tuesday morning, Evander revealed that Turkish club Galatasaray was also interested in his services, as relayed by The Oregonian's Ryan Clarke.

Beating a club with the pedigree and following that Galatasaray boasts to the signature of a rising star who has excelled in European competitions is an impressive feat for any Major League Soccer club, never mind one outside of the bigger destinations for foreign players like New York, Los Angeles, and Miami. The task now for the Timbers is to make the most out of Evander's time at the club, as young attacking players in Major League Soccer have proven to be hot commodities for European clubs in recent transfer windows.