Atlanta United exercised the loan option for winger Xande Silva and agreed to a contract through 2025, with the club holding an option for 2026. He will not be a Designated Player.
Silva, 26, scored two goals with three assists in 10 appearances while on loan from Dijon in France this season. A left winger, Silva scored two more goals in three playoff matches against Columbus.
Silva had a chance to come to the club two years ago but he instead went to Dijon. After arriving in Atlanta and playing well last summer, Silva said on Monday that he spurned other suitors because he said he wanted to stay with the club. He said he knew from first match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that he hoped to make the club, whose players he enjoys playing with, and the city, which he said he also enjoys, his home.
“My mind has always been on Atlanta United,” he said.
Joining Atlanta United full time may end what has been a nomadic soccer existence for Silva. Before coming to MLS, he scored 25 goals with nine assists in 172 appearances for clubs, including most recently at Dijon, and also West Ham U21s, Aris Thessaloniki, Nottingham Forest and Vitória Guimarães.
Silva provided a dynamism on the left wing that Atlanta United needed during its playoff push last summer. He showed an ability to beat defenders one-on-one and put his shots on goal, finishing with 7 of 16.
“We’re excited to bring Xande back on a permanent transfer and look forward to him building off of his performances during the final stretch of the season,” Atlanta United Vice President Carlos Bocanegra said in a statement from the club. “He is a dynamic attacker who likes to take defenders on and can contribute goals and assists.”
The acquisition also enabled manager Gonzalo Pineda to move Caleb Wiley from left wing to left fullback.
Silva will permanently join an attack that should include striker Giorgos Giakoumakis, who finished with 17 goals, Saba Lobjanidze, who also joined during the summer window and finished with three goals and four assists in nine appearances, and possibly attacking midfielder Thiago Almada, who finished third in MLS MVP voting after scoring 11 goals and finishing with a league-most 19 assists. The attacking talent also includes Tyler Wolff, who scored five goals. Silva said it’s easier to succeed when you have teammate who understand football.
Silva said his goals for next season are for the club to make it into the top four in the East. It finished sixth last season and was beaten in the playoffs by Columbus, which will host the MLS Cup against LAFC on Saturday. Silva said he hopes to score at least 10 goals.
Silva said the Bocanegra and manager Gonzalo Pineda said they are going to work to bring out his best now that he will have a chance to go through a preseason training camp.
“This season, with preparation, everything is going to be different,” he said.
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Atlanta United roster
Goalkeepers (1): Brad Guzan.
Defenders (7): Luis Abram, Noah Cobb, Ronald Hernández, Brooks Lennon, Aiden McFadden, Efraín Morales and Caleb Wiley.
Midfielders (11): Thiago Almada, Derrick Etienne Jr., Nick Firmino*, Ajani Fortune, Franco Ibarra, Saba Lobjanidze, Edwin Mosquera, Tristan Muyumba, Santiago Sosa, Adyn Torres* and Tyler Wolff.
Forwards (5): Luke Brennan*, Erik Centeno, Giorgos Giakoumakis, Xande Silva and Jamal Thiaré.
* Homegrowns who will join in 2024 season.
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