FC Cincinnati are finalizing a blockbuster transfer to acquire star attacking midfielder Evander from Portland Timbers.
The deal involves a cash transfer fee of $12 million plus add-ons. It will be one of the biggest outbound transfers by an MLS team in league history, surpassing the Portland Timbers’ current record of just over $1 Million.
Cincinnati was only able to sign Evander due to a cash transfer, which is a new rule that has been implemented this winter.
The agreement to transfer Evander comes very shortly after FC Dallas agreed to a deal for star attacking midfielder Lucho Acosta from FC Cincinnati. Cincinnati would have been able to complete the deal for Evander only if they had found an exit for Acosta.
Evander, 26, is one of the top players in the league. Last year, he had a career-best season, scoring 15 goals and making 15 assists in 2,462 minutes.
Even before coming to the MLS, Evander excelled in Europe. Previously, he played for FC Midtjylland in Denmark, where he was productive in domestic and international play. He was most notably in the UEFA Champions League when Midtjylland qualified for the 2020-21 season.
In 167 career games for FC Midtjylland, he scored 50 goals and 38 assists. Before moving to Denmark, he started his career in his home country of Brazil, where he played 51 games for Vasco da Gama, scoring 5 goals and 2 assists before a $2.5 million move to Midtjylland.
This Evander transfer solidifies the huge offseason that FC Cincinnati has had.
Cincinnati has already signed forward Kevin Denkey for $16.2 million, a new league-record transfer until Atlanta United signed Emmanuel Latte Lath. Cincinnati also brought wingback Luca Orellano back on a permanent deal and added left wingback Lukas Engel and center-back Gilberto Flores to help solidify the defense. Former MLS Defender of the Year Matt Miazga is also back after suffering a season-ending injury last summer.
Star forward Kevin Denkey will now have one of the best creative attackers in MLS to create many chances for him in a new and remade attack.
Portland already has their eye on a replacement for Evander, as they are finalizing a deal to sign David da Costa from Lens as their new designated player to replace Evander.
