Atlanta United announced it has signed winger Xande Silva from French side Dijon on loan for the remainder of the 2023 season with an option to purchase. Silva will occupy an international roster slot pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and P-1 Visa.
“We’re excited to welcome Xande to the club and look forward to him providing an impact over the final stretch of the season,” Atlanta United Vice President and Technical Director Carlos Bocanegra said. “He is a versatile attacker who will provide more competition on the wing and has the ability to play anywhere across the front three.”
The 26-year-old has made 172 career professional appearances and recorded 25 goals and nine assists. Born in Porto, Portugal, Silva began his career at FC Alverca and later spent time in the youth systems at Belenenses, Sporting Club de Portugal and Vitória Guimarães. He made 50 appearances and scored four goals with Vitória Guimarães B before joining the club’s first team, making his debut in Portugal’s top flight on May 17, 2015 against Benfica. He would go on to score one goal in 31 appearances before transferring to West Ham United in August of 2018.
At West Ham, Silva made 13 appearances with the club’s U-21 side, recording 10 goals and two assists, and made his English Premier League debut on Dec. 30, 2018 against Burnley. Silva then went on loan to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece’s first division where he tallied four goals and three assists in 33 appearances across all competitions. In August of 2021, the winger transferred to Nottingham Forest and went on to record an assist in 10 appearances. In August of 2022, Silva made the move to Dijon in the French second division where he made 32 league appearances and tallied six goals and three assists.
On the international stage, Silva represented Portugal from the U-15 to U-20 level, totaling 65 appearances and 19 goals.
