Charlotte FC has made a splash this offseason by securing a major signing: former Premier League star Wilfried Zaha.
The Zaha joins Charlotte FC on loan from Turkish club Galatasaray S.K. after a challenging few months in Europe.
Zaha’s arrival brings excitement and new potential to the team, with head coach Dean Smith expecting big things from his new forward.
In the meantime, the club gears up for the upcoming 2025 MLS season while they faced Sporting KC today in a preseason match.
Dean Smith discusses Wilfried Zaha’s arrival
Speaking in a recent episode of GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, Charlotte’s head coach Dean Smith opened up about Zaha’s motivations for making the move to MLS.
After facing difficulties in his recent European stints, Zaha is ready for a fresh start in the U.S. “He wasn’t in the (Galatasaray) team so much, and he’s just had an unsuccessful spell, I think, at Lyon,” Smith explained, “he’s coming here to enjoy his football.”
Smith also highlighted Wilfried Zaha’s mentality and work ethic, noting that he brings a winning attitude to the training ground. “What I’ve seen from him in the training sessions so far, he’s got a winning mentality.“
Before finalizing the transfer, Smith had a personal meeting with Zaha in London to gauge his hunger for success and understand his goals.
“I wanted to get a feel of what his hunger was, and what he wanted to do. And likewise, he wanted to get a feel from me about what I wanted from him and how he would fit in,” said Smith.
Wilfried Zaha’s career journey
Zaha’s football journey has been full of ups and downs, with his time at Crystal Palace being the highlight of his career.
Over 13 seasons, Zaha made 458 appearances for the club, scoring 90 goals and providing 52 assists.
His impressive performances earned him a $22 million move to Galatasaray in 2023, where he helped the club win both the Süper Lig and Turkish Super Cup titles in his first season.
However, after struggling to secure a regular spot at the beginning of this season, Zaha was loaned to Lyon in August.
Unfortunately, the French move didn’t work out, as Zaha only made six appearances, failing to score a single goal.
Now, he’s looking to reignite his career with Charlotte FC, and Smith is confident he’ll be an impactful addition to the team.
