Xande Silva Bio
Alexandre “Xande” Nascimento da Costa e Silva, born on 16 March 1997 in Porto, Portugal, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward. He currently represents Israeli Premier League club Hapoel Tel Aviv, continuing a career that has taken him across Portugal, England, Greece, France, the United States, and now Israel. Over the course of his journey, Silva has been a part of clubs such as Vitória de Guimarães, West Ham United, Aris, Nottingham Forest, Dijon, and Atlanta United.
Standing at 1.77 m, Xande Silva is known for his versatility in attack and his ability to operate in advanced positions. He has also represented Portugal at multiple youth levels, contributing to several successful tournament campaigns between the under-15 and under-20 age groups.
Early Life and Background
Alexandre Nascimento da Costa e Silva was born in Porto, Portugal, and is of Angolan descent. He grew up in a footballing family, with his father Joaquim also a professional footballer who played as a forward. Joaquim spent most of his career in China and Portugal and represented the Angola national team, providing a clear sporting influence on his son’s development.
From an early age, Silva showed promise on the pitch, which earned him a place in the academy of Sporting CP. He spent five years developing in the club’s youth system before making the move to Vitória de Guimarães at the age of 17, where he would begin the next chapter of his footballing education.
Path to Professional Soccer
Silva’s path into professional football began at Vitória de Guimarães, where he joined the academy and quickly progressed into the reserve setup. He made his Segunda Liga debut on 17 August 2014, appearing as a late substitute in a 1–0 away loss against Oliveirense. He scored his first goal in the competition in January 2015, helping his side beat Benfica B 4–1.
His performances for the reserves earned him a first-team opportunity, and he made his Primeira Liga debut in the penultimate match of the 2014–15 season, playing 11 minutes in a 0–0 home draw against Benfica after replacing Otávio. He went on to score his first league goal on 7 December 2015, in a 3–1 home win over Rio Ave. These early contributions marked him as a promising attacker within Portuguese football.
Xande Silva Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Silva’s early career was rooted at Vitória de Guimarães, where he developed from the B team into a first-team contributor. Between 2014 and 2018, he split his time between the reserves and the senior side, gaining valuable experience in both the Segunda Liga and the Primeira Liga. His first league goal in December 2015 demonstrated his attacking instinct, and he continued to feature regularly as a young forward in the Portuguese top flight.
This period laid the foundation for his move abroad, attracting the attention of clubs in larger European leagues. By the summer of 2018, Silva had developed into a player ready for a new challenge at a higher competitive level.
West Ham United (2018–2021)
On 2 August 2018, Xande Silva joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee, signing a three-year contract and being recruited initially for the under-23 team. He made an immediate impact, scoring a four-minute hat-trick on his Premier League 2 debut against Tottenham Hotspur on 13 August 2018, marking one of the most striking introductions to English football at that level.
Silva made his Premier League debut on 30 December 2018 in a 2–0 away defeat to Burnley, entering as a second-half substitute for Marko Arnautović. His progress was disrupted the following season when he was rushed into hospital in Portugal and underwent emergency bowel surgery, causing him to miss the start of the 2019–20 campaign. On 5 October 2020, he was loaned to Greek side Aris for the remainder of the season, where he scored his first Super League Greece goal on 2 December 2020 with an individual effort in a 3–0 win at AEL.
Nottingham Forest and Dijon (2021–2023)
On 31 August 2021, Silva joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. His maiden appearance came on 15 September 2021, replacing Lyle Taylor midway through the second half of an eventual 0–2 home loss against Middlesbrough. He featured as Forest mounted a strong promotion push that season.
On 2 August 2022, Silva signed a three-year contract with French side Dijon for an undisclosed fee. He ranked second in his team’s scoring charts with six goals, tied with Bryan Soumaré, but the club was relegated from Ligue 2 after finishing third-bottom at the end of the campaign.
Atlanta United Era (2023–2024)
In August 2023, Silva was loaned to Major League Soccer side Atlanta United for the remainder of the season. He started in eight of his regular-season appearances and scored twice during the playoffs, making a notable impression in the United States. On 4 December 2023, a transfer option was exercised, and he agreed to a two-year deal with the option of an additional year.
St. Louis City and Hapoel Tel Aviv (2025–Present)
On 23 April 2025, St. Louis City acquired Silva, adding him to their roster ahead of the MLS campaign. In August 2025, he moved to the Israeli Premier League with Hapoel Tel Aviv, embarking on another international chapter. His debut for the club was a memorable one, as he was sent off just eight minutes into a 2–2 away draw against Maccabi Bnei Reineh.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Silva’s signature moments came early in his West Ham career, when he scored a four-minute hat-trick on his Premier League 2 debut in August 2018, instantly announcing his arrival in English football. He also scored his first Premier League goal shortly after breaking into the senior squad, and later became the first Portuguese player to score in the Super League Greece for Aris during the 2020–21 season.
Xande Silva International Career
Silva was capped by Portugal at every youth level between under-15 and under-20, demonstrating his consistency as a promising attacker from a young age. He was part of the under-17 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2014 UEFA European Championship, where he was named to the Team of the Tournament.
Two years later, he helped the under-19 team reach the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championship in Germany. He was then selected by under-20 manager Emílio Peixe for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he scored in the quarter-final against Uruguay in a match Portugal lost on penalties.
Xande Silva Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Silva comes from a family with a clear footballing lineage. His father, Joaquim, was also a professional footballer who operated as a forward. Joaquim spent most of his career in China and Portugal and went on to represent the Angola national team, giving Xande an early and direct connection to the professional game.
Personal Life
Born in Porto, Portugal, Xande Silva is of Angolan descent, a heritage shaped largely through his father’s background. While he has lived across multiple countries during his playing career, he remains a Portuguese national and has continued to embrace new footballing cultures throughout his journey.
2025 Season Performance
2025 has been a transitional year for Xande Silva, beginning with his acquisition by St. Louis City in Major League Soccer. The move added another American chapter to his career, following his earlier spell at Atlanta United, and offered a fresh opportunity to contribute in a new setting.
In August 2025, he made the move to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the Israeli Premier League, becoming part of a new squad and league. His debut was dramatic, lasting just eight minutes before he was shown a red card in a 2–2 draw with Maccabi Bnei Reineh. Despite the early setback, the move represents an exciting new opportunity to showcase his skills in Israeli football.