Charlotte FC acquired experienced forward Wilfried Zaha on loan from Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Ivory Coast international will join the MLS club until January 2026 with an option to extend the loan until June that year.
Zaha will occupy a designated player spot on the Charlotte roster alongside forwards Lil Abada and Karol Swiderski.
Zaha has recorded 100 goals and 59 assists in 524 professional matches, including 90 goals in 458 appearances for English Premier League side Crystal Palace from 2010–23.
“Wilfried is a world-class talent who has proven himself as an elite goalscorer and chance creator at the highest level of the game. His performances in the Premier League and at international level speak for themselves and we are confident Wilfried can “Immediate impact in Major League Soccer,” said Charlotte general manager Zoran Crneta.
“He provides valuable versatility in the attacking areas of the pitch and adds a bit of magic to our forward line that can help us win more games. We are delighted to add a player of Wilfred’s pedigree and experience to our squad , and we’re excited to welcome him to Charlotte.”
At international level, Zaha has scored five goals in 33 caps for Ivory Coast. He represented the Elephants at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Charlotte will open the 2025 MLS regular season on February 22 against the host Seattle Sounders.
–Field Level Media
