Brazilian midfielder Evander da Silva Ferreira is officially a Portland Timber. A native of Rio de Janeiro, Evander becomes only the third Brazilian to ever don a Portland kit across all eras of the club.
There's a lot to learn about the Timbers' new midfielder—but we have time. Here are five things you need to know now:
1. The magic touch
Evander's playmaking abilities showcase everything Brazilian football is famous for: footwork, creativity, composure, and, of course, magic from thin air. He has a high soccer IQ and he can punish opposing defenses with his passing vision or his ability to control the ball.
At FC Midtjylland, he scored 17 goals across all competitions and registered 6 assists in the 2021/2022 season. In all, he tallied 50 goals and 38 assists in 167 matches for Midtjylland since 2018.
2. Immediate impact
The club record transfer fee comes with high expectations for the 24-year-old.
At Midtjylland, Evander played deeper in a double-pivot midfield where he found considerable success in creating chances and finishing them off. With the Timbers, he'll likely play higher up the field, pulling the strings for the attack. Veteran Sebastián Blanco will continue to wear the number 10, but we can expect Evander to assume the role associated with that number from day one: key playmaker. This will also free up Blanco's penchant to work from the outside and cut in to cause havoc on opposing defenses.
3. Elite experience
During his four years in Denmark, Evander featured heavily in UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches, logging 27 appearances with 1,993 minutes. He scored five goals and added seven assists over that span.
He's currently leads the UEFA Europa League in assists this season, with five helpers in six matches.
4. He cut his teeth in front of passionate fans
Evander was 18 when he started his professional career at legendary Rio club Vasco da Gama, one of the oldest soccer clubs in Brazil that is filled with a rich history and a passionate fanbase. Among the club's most fervent fans? Pelé himself, who played most of his career for a different Brazilian club, Santos in Sao Paolo.
5. FIFA 23 ratings
While Evander is on AppleTV, we also expect him to light up the Twitch streams. His FIFA 23 stats are impressive, and already buoy the Timbers roster in-game.
Vision | 79
Dribbling | 80
Agility | 84
Balance | 83
Stamina | 86
Skill moves: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Weak foot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
