On December 5th, 2022, the Portland Timbers signed attacking midfielder Evander to a four-year contract. This acquisition came at a notable expense: The club paid Danish side FC Midtjylland $10 million for the Designated Player’s services.
$10 million is a high price to pay.
For that investment, you expect sensational performances, but Evander didn’t quite reach those standards in his first season.
Sure, he scored nine goals and recorded five assists in 2023, but the Timbers still collapsed on Decision Day and missed the playoffs. Also, those are good numbers, but they are not worthy of recognition. The Timbers Army has been anticipating that the 25-year-old can find another gear and help elevate the club to new heights of success in 2024.
So far, Evander has stepped up remarkably. He missed the first two games of the regular season due to a left foot injury but joined the starting lineup for Portland’s road match against NYCFC and made an undeniable impact. The player completed 87% of his passes, won 70% of his grown duels, and unleashed a 25-yard strike that made a beeline for the back of the net and gave the Timbers a 2-1 win at Yankee Stadium.
THAT was the Evander General Manager Ned Grabavoy shelled out a club-record transfer fee to acquire. The club has been looking for a successor to Diego Valeri at the 10 for years now, and although it may be premature to claim that Evander can fill those shoes, he has the technical ability needed to grow into one of the best players in Major League Soccer.
Let’s break down the main factors that may contribute to Evander maintaining his strong form over the course of this season.
1) Big Dreams
If Evander had his way, he might not be a Timber right now. The front office was bombarded with bids from Campeonato Brasileiro Série A sides Flamengo and Palmeiras all winter long, and the club rejected them all. Although those teams offered way less than what the Timbers bought him for, Evander seemed to be pushing for a move. He told the media in February that he wanted to move overseas and that it’s been a goal of his for a while now.
In that same press conference, he revealed that he aspires to play for Brazil’s senior national team in the future and believes he’s good enough to do so.
Seleção Canarinha is the fifth strongest national team in the world according to FIFA, and Evander is not playing in a top-tier league, which means that you have to really stand out for coaches to notice you. MLS has also served as a springboard to bigger clubs for many individuals, which could be encouraging the Brazilian to work hard in order to move back to his home country.
2) Acclimating to MLS
Soccer in North America is a lot different than soccer in Europe or South America in many ways. Players are more physical but have less technique. Teams invest more of their funds into the attack than the defense, which means backlines are weaker, and goalkeeping can sometimes be abysmal.
Because of this, newcomers tend to need time to adapt before they can play at their best. This is especially true for Evander, as the Danish Superliga operates with tactics and strategies different from those of MLS. Once he signed the deal with the Timbers, he was required to learn a new style of soccer.
Now that he’s been given a calendar year to get used to the nuances of the league, he might have the tricks and tips to thrive under his belt and is more prepared to succeed in the United States.
3) New Coach, New Players
The identity of the Timbers has been given a makeover this offseason. Eight individuals have departed the club in the last nine months, and there have been seven additions. Phil Neville has also replaced Giovanni Savarese as head coach.
Evander is a brilliant playmaker who needs talented players around him to unlock his full potential as a passer. Those pieces were not on the roster in 2023. The striker position lacked depth, with Felipe Mora missing much of the year due to knee surgery. Outside of Santiago Moreno, there were also a few wingers who opponents feared could wreak havoc in the 18-yard box.
Now that Mora should be back soon and left winger Antony is on the roster, Evander has the support he needs to create more chances for the team, which will ultimately boost his assists and do wonders for his stat sheet.
Although he’s only played two games, it’s nice to see Evander’s improvements on the field. He will be the x-factor in many crucial moments throughout the season. You can catch more of Evander this Saturday at Providence Park when the Timbers return home to take on the Philadelphia Union. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm.
