Alexandre "Xande" Nascimento da Costa e Silva (born 16 March 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger or forward for Super League Greece club Iraklis.

In his career, he played for Vitória de Guimarães (first team and reserves), West Ham United, Aris, Nottingham Forest, Dijon and Atlanta United.

Silva was a youth international for Portugal.

Club career Vitória Guimarães Born in Porto of Angolan descent, Silva joined Vitória de Guimarães' academy at the age of 17 after a five-year spell at Sporting CP. He started his senior career with the former's reserves, making his Segunda Liga debut on 17 August 2014 by coming on as a late substitute in a 1–0 away loss against Oliveirense. He scored his first goal in the competition the following 18 January, helping the hosts beat Benfica B 4–1.

Silva's first appearance in the Primeira Liga took place in the penultimate match of the season, and he played 11 minutes in a 0–0 home draw with Benfica after replacing Otávio. His maiden league goal occurred on 7 December 2015, in a 3–1 home defeat of Rio Ave.

West Ham United Silva joined West Ham United for an undisclosed fee on 2 August 2018, signing a three-year contract and being recruited initially for the under-23 team. He scored a four-minute hat-trick on his Premier League 2 debut 11 days later, against Tottenham Hotspur.

Silva made his Premier League debut on 30 December 2018 in a 2–0 away defeat to Burnley, coming on as a second-half substitute for Marko Arnautović. He missed the start of the 2019–20 season due to illness; rushed into hospital in Portugal, he underwent emergency bowel surgery from which he was recuperating.

On 5 October 2020, Silva was loaned to Aris for the season. He scored his first goal in the Super League Greece on 2 December, his individual effort capping the 3–0 win at AEL.

Nottingham Forest On 31 August 2021, Silva joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee. His maiden appearance took place on 15 September, when he replaced Lyle Taylor midway through the second half of an eventual 0–2 home loss against Middlesbrough.

Dijon On 2 August 2022, Silva signed a three-year contract with Dijon for an undisclosed fee. He ranked second in his team in the scoring department at six (alongside Bryan Soumaré), but they were relegated from Ligue 2 after finishing third-bottom.

Atlanta United In August 2023, Silva was loaned to Atlanta United of Major League Soccer for the remainder of the campaign. On 4 December, after starting in eight of his regular season appearances and scoring twice in the playoffs, a transfer option was exercised and he agreed to a two-year deal with the option of another year.

Later career On 23 April 2025, St. Louis City acquired Silva. He moved to the Israeli Premier League in August, with Hapoel Tel Aviv. He was sent off just eight minutes into his debut for the latter, a 2–2 away draw against Maccabi Bnei Reineh. On 15 September 2026, Silva signed for Iraklis on a free transfer.

International career Silva was capped by Portugal at every youth level between under-15 and under-20. He was part of the under-17 squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2014 UEFA European Championship, and was named in the Team of the Tournament.

Two years later, Silva helped the under-19 team to 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, which they lost after a penalty shootout.

Personal life Silva's father, Joaquim, was also a footballer. Also a forward, he spent most of his career in China and Portugal and represented the Angola national team.

Career statistics

+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsVitória Guimarães B2014–15Segunda Liga232–––2322015–16LigaPro81–––812016–17LigaPro101–––1012017–18LigaPro110–––110Total524–––524Vitória Guimarães2014–15Primeira Liga100000–102015–16Primeira Liga2011000002112016–17Primeira Liga402010–702017–18Primeira Liga1000001020Total261301010311West Ham United U232018–19Premier League 2–––1010West Ham United2018–19Premier League101000–202019–20Premier League000000–002020–21Premier League000000–00Total101000–20Aris (loan)2020–21Super League Greece29440—00334Nottingham Forest2021–22Championship802000–100Dijon2022–23Ligue 232600––326Atlanta United (loan)2023Major League Soccer10200–32134Atlanta United2024Major League Soccer23210–412832025Major League Soccer70––-70Total40410–73487St. Louis City2025Major League Soccer–––––Career total18819110109320922

References

External links