Porto have announced the return of forward André Silva to the club after a nine-year absence. The move was confirmed by Porto president André Villas-Boas, who described the transfer as the homecoming of a ‘prodigal son’. Silva joins Porto from Werder Bremen, with the Portuguese club clearly hoping he can recapture the form that initially took him to the top of European football.
Silva initially departed Porto in the summer of 2017, joining AC Milan for a fee reported to be around €40 million. However, his time in Italy proved unsuccessful, with the striker struggling to establish himself and scoring only two league goals in 24 appearances. Subsequent loan spells at Sevilla and Real Sociedad failed to reignite his career, and he found himself moving between clubs in search of consistent playing time.
A turning point arrived during two seasons with Eintracht Frankfurt, where Silva rediscovered his goalscoring touch, netting 40 times in 57 matches. This form earned him a move to RB Leipzig, but he again struggled to make a significant impact, leading to further loan spells at Real Sociedad, Werder Bremen, and most recently, Elche. Despite a disrupted period, Silva played a key role in Elche’s successful fight against relegation last season, scoring 10 goals.
Villas-Boas emphasized Silva’s deep connection to the club, stating that the player’s desire to return was evident from their first conversation. Silva himself expressed his joy at rejoining Porto, calling it a “special day” and stating that he felt it was the right moment in his career. He celebrated Porto’s recent league title win as a fan and is eager to contribute to further success. The return of an experienced and proven goalscorer could provide a significant boost to Porto’s attacking options as they look to defend their title and compete in European competitions.
