How Charlotte FC landed a big one
Former Premier League standout Zaha gives Charlotte its highest profile addition yet; plus goal-scoring debut for Agyemang with U.S. Men's National team
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Proven Premier League goal-scorer confident and ‘very motivated’ to show what he can do for Charlotte FC
Wilfried Zaha celebrates his signing with Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta. (Photo by Taylor Banner/Charlotte FC.)
For its first three seasons of existence, Charlotte FC has been noted more for high profile players it has lost — at the last hour, to tragedy, to Italy and back again — than those it actually signed. Today, the club changes that with the official announcement winger Wilfied Zaha is in the fold.
Charlotte has acquired Zaha, a native of Ivory Coast who was raised in England and starred for a dozen seasons with Crystal Palace, including 10 following their promotion to the English Premier League.
The 32-year-old joins Charlotte on loan from Galatasaray of Turkey through the 2025 season (until Jan. 17, 2026), with an option to extend the loan through June 30, 2026. Zaha is a designated player, joining forwards Liel Abada and Karol Swiderski as Charlotte’s three players signed with the roster designation that allows fewer restrictions from the salary cap.
While Swiderski is soon to be 28 and has been Charlotte’s biggest talent and 23-year-old Abada might have its biggest potential, this is the first signing for Charlotte who comes with proven pedigree as a goal-scorer at Europe’s most elite level.
For a point of reference, Zaha comes with 2.2 million Instagram followers.
“I know him from England; Dean knows him from England…,” said Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta, who initiated the deal three months ago and watched it pick up pace after Zaha had lunch in London with Charlotte FC head coach Dean Smith, whose clubs in Aston Villa and Norwich City faced Zaha when he was with Crystal Palace. “We thought the Wilfried Zaha that we know would probably be one of the top, top players in MLS.”
For another point of reference, Zaha’s former Crystal Palace teammate, Christian Benteke, 34 — a player he used to set up from his left wing position — won the Golden Boot last season after leading Major League Soccer with 23 goals for DC United. Not surprisingly, Benteke was one of Zaha’s first calls when mulling this move to MLS.
“He said it’s competitive and the life’s enjoyable, and that’s all I really needed to hear,” Zaha said. “So I thought, ‘Why not?’”
Krneta said it’s the most complicated deal he’s ever put together, requiring him to negotiate on three fronts: with Zaha; the Turkish club he left Crystal Palace for; and the top tier French team, Lyon, where Galatasaray loaned him at the beginning of the 2024-25 season.
Ultimately, all involved wanted a fresh start, especially Zaha, who saw his playing time all but dry up after scoring 10 goals in his first 43 games with Galatasaray in 2023. Zaha appeared in just six games for Lyon.
“I'm very motivated,” Zaha said. “I just need to get back on the pitch. That’s it. I know what I can do. I don’t look elsewhere for confidence. I’ve gone through a difficult period, but those are things that have helped me become who I am now. So now, with Charlotte, once I get the opportunity to get back on the field, I just want to show what I can do to everyone.”
Zaha training this week with Charlotte FC. (Photo by Taylor Banner/Charlotte FC.)
After multiple conversations with Zaha’s past and current teammates at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Lyon, Krneta said he came away confident the issue was more about the situations Zaha was in than the player himself.
“We thought ‘This is a gem who needs the love and respect and recognition of how amazing and good a player he is,’” Krneta said.
Giving an indication of what this move feels like to Krneta, he then went on to compare Zaha’s move to Charlotte to Lionel Messi’s move to Miami from Paris Saint-Germain.
“[Messi] was miserable, he was injured, he didn't perform,” Krneta said. “He doesn't speak French, and he was living in Paris. … So he came to Miami, suddenly he was in a happy place, and he suddenly started playing fantastic and scoring goals, and you could see the smiling and jumping and celebrating with his teammates. I think this is the same situation for Wilfred. He was unhappy for a year and a half because of not playing, and he’s not enjoying what he does the best — playing football. I honestly think we will see very much [the] same Wilfred that we know from his Crystal Palace days.”
Zaha will wear the No. 10, and unlike his Charlotte predecessors who wore the celebrated jersey number before him [Titi Ortiz and Brecht Dejaegere], he stands a great chance to live up to its hype.
Zaha arrived in Charlotte on Friday and underwent his medical evaluation Saturday. He then traveled with the club Sunday to Miami for preseason training. Zaha said it was visits he made to Miami with friends in his mid-20s that familiarized him with the U.S.
“When the opportunity came up, I’m a person that I want to try new things, I want to discover new things,” Zaha said. “Charlotte seemed like a beautiful family-based place, and that’s exactly what I’m looking for, just the peaceful life. Enjoy my football, score goals and just be happy.”
Zaha is married with two young sons and a third child due in March. He acknowledged trying to convince his wife to make a big move, after more than a year filled with them, wasn’t easy. He encouraged her to “just enjoy the moment.”
Zaha said the welcome he’s gotten from Charlotte FC teammates and staff so far makes him feel like “this is a better journey” already. He also said he’s open to extending his stay in Charlotte beyond the loan.
“The plan wasn't to hop from different cities like I have, to be honest,” he said. “I like to be in one place, especially for my kids. So hopefully it goes well, and then, yeah, I don’t see any reason why I can’t stay longer.”
Zaha knew about two Charlotte FC players who’d left the Premier League to make new homes here in captain Ashley Westwood and center back Tim Ream. What he didn’t realize was that Christian Fuchs, who won the 2016 Premier League title with Leicester City, had made a home for himself here, too. Fuchs played left back during Charlotte FC’s inaugural 2022 season and has been on the coaching staff since he retired.
“I met him in the cafeteria, like randomly,” Zaha said. “I said, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’ …He said he’s loved it. He was telling me how nice it is here, how everyone’s welcoming. I feel like me, personally, that’s just something I needed after the year that I’ve had.”
Agyemang scores in U.S. Men’s National team debut
It’s been a big week around Charlotte FC and “Big Pat,” Patrick Agyemang, is another big reason why. The 6-foot-4 striker who burst on the MLS scene with Charlotte FC last season scored a goal in his debut with the U.S. Men’s National team Saturday in Fort Lauderdale.
Agyemang got the starting nod at striker in the U.S.’ exhibition against Venezuela on Saturday afternoon and all but single-handedly scored the second goal of a decisive 3-1 win. He chased down a ball deflected forward by Matko Miljevic, beat a defender 1-on-1 and converted the chance he created with a stinging left foot.
“It felt like a dream,” he said. “I’m just so thankful. And I hope to just keep going.”
Agyemang has been a media darling of the camp, telling his rise from Division III Eastern Connecticut to Rhode Island to Charlotte FC to his first ever invitation to the USMNT camp. He became the 60th player to score in his U.S. Men’s National Team debut.
The U.S. Men take on Costa Rica tonight in Orlando at 7 p.m., in a game televised on TNT and TruTV.
Up Next: Charlotte FC Preseason continues in Miami
Charlotte FC moved its preseason camp from Charlotte to Miami this week. Here are notable dates for the preseason:
Jan. 19-30: Several closed-door exhibitions during a 10-day stint in Florida.
Feb. 5: Charlotte will play North Carolina FC in Raleigh in a game open to the public. Tickets went on sale today.
Feb. 6-15: Charlotte competes in the Coachella Valley Invitational, which will include games against defending MLS Cup Champion LA Galaxy on Feb. 9 and the Portland Timbers on Feb. 15.
Charlotte FC opens its season on the road Feb. 22 in Seattle before returning home to play at Bank of America Stadium March 1 against Atlanta United.
Carroll Walton is a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution now in her fourth season covering Charlotte FC. She would love to hear from you. E-mail her with questions, suggestions, story ideas and comments!
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