Atlanta United are reportedly close to signing Dijon attacker Xande Silva, with the Portuguese winger once regarded as a superstar in the making in the Premier League.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the 26-year-old will be one of two deadline day signings Atlanta make today as the Five Stripes look to expand on their attacking options.
Whilst Hatayspor’s Saba Lobzhanidze will arrive as a Designated Player, a realistic suggestion could be made that Silva is the more interested of the two acquisitions for Atlanta.
Playing in France’s Ligue 2 last season, Silva is a name who will be familiar with Premier League fans having been signed by West Ham as a teenager in 2018, with the Portuguese star viewed at the time as something of a wonderkid.
However, things didn’t go to plan with Silva, with the winger failing to make any impact for West Ham before being sold to Nottingham Forest in 2021, where the forward guided the-then Championship side to Premier League promotion.
And now, Silva finds himself heading to MLS with Atlanta, where the creative forward could be an outstanding addition for Gonzalo Pineda’s side in the second half of the season.
Silva could reach his superstar potential with Atlanta
Silva has had quite an interesting career that has taken the Portuguese player from the heights of the Premier League with West Ham to the odd corners of European soccer with Greek side Aris Thessaloniki.
Yet a move to MLS with Atlanta could be an ideal move for the 26-year-old, with the Five Stripes capable of giving Silva the platform needed to finally become a superstar in the beautiful game.
Whilst competition will be tough, Silva’s quality will shine through once the winger is in Georgia and ready to go, with Atlanta’s options out on the wings now stacked.