Fluminense’s Evanilson is close to joining FC Porto on an undisclosed fee and is set to travel to Portugal tomorrow, September 8th.
The club released a statement earlier announcing the departure to a “Portuguese club”. “As informed to Fluminense by the club holding the athlete’s federative rights, striker Evanilson agreed to transfer him to a club in Portugal. Fluminense has 10% of the athlete’s economic rights and 20% of showcase fee which the club will have 30% of the financial result obtained from Tombense (MG) in the sale to the Portuguese club. Tricolor will remain with 6% of economic rights over the percentage of Tombanense in a future sale made by the Portuguese club.”
The Brazilian club attempted to keep him on loan at least until the end of the Série A season, however, Fluminense state that the Portuguese side demanded the player’s immediate services.
Fluminense clarified that they do not wish to disclose the athlete’s destination as they intend to announce this officially through their communication channels once the deal is finalised. A respected Brazilian Youtuber who divulges Flu’s news, also took to his social media platform earlier on Monday to inform fans the departure of Evanilson.
“Evanilson is not Fluminense’s player anymore, he has purchased a ticket to Portugal, he will travel tomorrow and will not play against Flamengo.”
With nine goals scored in 24 appearances, he was the deputy goalscorer and awoken interest from across Europe, with one potential suitor being City Football Group, the group that manages Manchester City among many other sides were keenly scouting the youngster’s development. Although the team to show the most concrete interest of late was Premier League outfit, Crystal Palace who looked to have had a deal arranged for the youngster’s arrival before he ultimately decided on Porto, as well as attracting interest from Série A outfit Internacional.
Porto’s rivals, SL Benfica were also keeping tabs during the winter transfer window when the then 19-year-old was featuring under Eugenio Souza at Tombense, in the Brazilian third division, Série C before moving to Rio.
He was the top goalscorer in the Brasileirão under-20s with 15 goals, and impressed on a short stint at Slovakian outfit, STK Samorin. Fluminense’s partnership with the Slovaks was beneficial, as it secured him some much needed first-team football in the 2017/18 season.
GloboEsporte’s journalist, Felipe Siqueira detailed Evanilson’s evolution thus far, “He started as a winger, that’s where he played during his youth career, but while with Samorin he was deployed as a striker.”
Having said that, some of the Porto players’ futures are somewhat of a blur at present, with the club needing a way to fund and comply with the Financial Fair Play regulations, but also have to strengthen their team to compete with big-spending rivals Benfica and to defend their 2019/20 Primeira Liga title. With the recent departure of highly-rated centre-forward Fábio Silva to Wolves, Porto have to focus on adjusting their squad for the new season, which isn’t helped by the fact key players such as Tiquinho Soares, Alex Telles and Jesús Corona are just some of those who are also rumoured to be leaving the Dragão.
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