Evander joins Portland Timbers from Midtjylland - Record transfer for both clubs

This article first appeared on Nov. 10 and has been updated after the Evander deal has been made official by both clubs. 

The Portland Timbers have signed Brazilian winger Evander from Danish club Midtjylland in what is a club-record transfer. According to MLSSoccer.com writer Tom Bogert, the agreed fee for Evander is $10 million (€9.5m). The Major League Soccer side announced the transfer on Monday morning. 

Once complete, Evander breaks the record set by Brian Fernández (overview). Fernández joined the Timbers from Liga MX side Necaxa in May 2019 in a deal that was worth around €9m at the time (around $10m). 

“We are thrilled to announce the acquisition and signing of our new Designated Player, Evander,” Timbers technical director Ned Grabavoy said in a club statement. “It was clear from the beginning stages of this process that this was a great opportunity for both Evander and the Portland Timbers. He is a player with natural ability, capable of making an impact, and has already proven himself at a good standard. We see him as an integral part of the club’s future and look forward to seeing him in Green and Gold soon.”

Evander to Portland - Midtjylland receive record fee

It is also a record deal for Midtjylland. The Danish Superligaen side has previously sold Frank Onyeka (to Brentford in 21/22), Raphael Onyedika (to Brugge in 22/23), and Jens Cajuste (to Stade Reims in 21/22) for €10m each. Midtjylland, in fact, are considered one of the best talent developers in Danish football, and Evander has been in excellent form this season, scoring seven goals and four assists in 19 games across all competitions. With a market value of €7m, Evander would become one of the 25 most valuable players in MLS.