Charlotte FC signed veteran striker Wilfried Zaha on loan from Turkish side Galatasary on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old from Ivory Coast joins the MLS club until January 2026 with an option to extend the loan until June of that year.
Zaha will take the designated player spot on Charlotte’s roster alongside forwards Liel Abada and Karol Swiderski.
Zaha has recorded 100 goals and 59 assists in 524 games, including 90 goals in 458 games for English Premier League club Crystal Palace from 2010-23.
“Wilfried is a world-class talent who has proven himself at the highest level in the sport as a top scorer and creator of opportunities. The way he has played in the Premier League and at the international level speaks for itself and we are confident that Wilfred can make an immediate impact in Major League Soccer,” said Charlotte general manager Zoran Krneta.
“He provides valuable flexibility in the attacking areas of the pitch and adds that little bit of magic to our front line that can help us win more games. We are delighted to add a player of Wilfried’s pedigree and experience to our team, too.” I’m excited to welcome him to Charlotte.”
Internationally, Zaha has five goals in 33 appearances for Ivory Coast. He represented the Elephants at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Charlotte will begin the 2025 MLS regular season on Feb. 22 against the host Seattle Sounders.
–Field Level Media