Official: Portugal striker André Silva signs for Real Sociedad | OneFootball

André Silva is on the move again. After two seasons with German side RB Leipzig, the Portuguese international has returned to Spanish football by signing a loan deal at Real Sociedad.

Silva lost his place in the Leipzig starting line-up last season, having struggled to live up to expectations following a high-profile switch from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021. Now he embarks on another foreign journey, which sees him continue playing Champions League football this season.

Sociedad finished 4th in La Liga last term, but have been slow to recruit so far in the summer transfer window, adding only experienced Malian defender Hamari Traoré from Rennes. Norwegian striker Alexander Sørloth departed for Villarreal having completed two years on loan, leaving a void in the striker position which has been filled by ex-Porto man Silva.

In capturing Silva, the Basque club offer the forward another chance to impress in Spanish football, following on from his stint with Sevilla in 2018-19. Sociedad are the 5th foreign club of Silva’s foreign ventures, which began with AC Milan and peaked during a goal-laden two years for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga.

Silva is believed to have compromised slightly on his Leipzig salary, which will reportedly see a slight reduction and both clubs paying a portion of his wages, while a purchase option has been included. Regrettably for the 27-year-old, a knee injury suffered towards the end of last season rules Silva out of the start of the campaign with his new club.

Sociedad have been well-represented by Portuguese players in the past. Indeed, the first player from Portugal to grace La Liga was former Estoril midfielder Bravo Gomes, who turned out for Sociedad in the late 1940s. Since then, internationals Oceano, Carlos Xavier, Ricardo Sá Pinto, Kevin Rodrigues and Bruma have donned the jersey, as well as well-travelled midfielder Fábio Felício.