Evanilson Takes the Spotlight as Bournemouth's New Striker

Evanilson's Impact at Bournemouth

The Cherries replaced Dominic Solanke with Evanilson this summer. The haste with which Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth replaced Solanke with Evanilson shows how certain they are that he is the best player to lead the line. With the arrival of the 24-year-old Brazilian striker, who reportedly cost an initial £31.5 million rising up to £40 million after add-ons, Bournemouth broke their transfer record. It’s obvious that at that cost, it’s a risk that needs to be profitable. It is a risk, after all.

Evaluating Evanilson's Performance

Despite playing for a team that finished third, Evanilson only managed 13 goals in the Portuguese top tier last season. That is six fewer than Solanke’s tally in the 2023-24 Premier League season. Have Bournemouth made a smart move by replacing Solanke with Evanilson? It is unknown how he will perform with a mid-table club and at the Premier League level. However, Evanilson possesses many of the basic qualities needed for success.

A study of his style of play even suggests he would be a better fit for Andoni Iraola’s team than for FC Porto. According to the statistics, Bournemouth made the right decision in landing their man and giving him Solanke’s No. 9 shirt. Evanilson may be the identical penalty-box poacher that Solanke became for Iraola, based on a comparison of their numbers across every league. They score similarly for shots and touches in the opponent’s box. In this instance, there is essentially no difference. Evanilson even outscored Solanke in terms of goals scored.

While Solanke met his Expected Goals (xG) perfectly, the Brazilian also somewhat exceeded his total. This shows that the new addition might be a more proficient finisher. However, heading is one area where Evanilson will need to grow. Although he wins more aerial duels than Solanke (46.3% versus 41.8%), the Brazilian only managed a single header for Porto in the previous campaign as opposed to Solanke’s four.

But Evanilson is significantly more than a poacher. With a low centre of gravity and an aggressive playing style, he is a dynamic and powerful ball carrier. Frequently, he will retrieve the ball during a half-turn and use it to drive past the opposition. More significantly, Bournemouth’s emphasis on transitions is well-suited to Evanilson’s aggressive and vertical style of play.

Iraola likes his sides to attack on the break, utilizing the openings created when the ball is won back. Evanilson is perhaps superior to Solanke at connecting plays since he enjoys cutting into half-spaces to seize the ball and run with it.