The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Silva agrees to stay with Atlanta United after strong showing on loan from Dijon
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. The left winger 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 Monday that he spurned other suitors because he wanted to stay with the club.
He said he knew from his first match at Mercedes-benz Stadium that he hoped to make the club and the city 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. “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 his goal for next season is for the club to make it into the top four in the East. It finished sixth last season and lost in the playoffs to Columbus, which will host the MLS Cup against LAFC on Saturday.
Silva said he also hopes to score at least 10 goals.