North Charlotte Today

Charlotte FC has announced the acquisition of forward Wilfried Zaha on loan from Galatasaray. The loan agreement will last until January 17, 2026, with an option to extend through June 30, 2026. Zaha will take a Designated Player spot and international roster slot for the club's 2025 season.

Zaha is known for his decade-long career in the Premier League, where he played for Crystal Palace, Manchester United, and Cardiff City. During his time in England's top flight, he scored 68 goals in 305 appearances. He spent most of his career at Crystal Palace, scoring 90 goals and providing 52 assists over 458 games across all competitions.

The forward began his professional journey at Crystal Palace as a teenager after joining the club at eight years old. His performance in the EFL Championship attracted attention from Manchester United, who signed him in January 2013. Despite limited appearances for United, Zaha had a successful stint back at Palace and eventually returned permanently to Selhurst Park.

In recent years, Zaha joined Galatasaray in Turkey during the summer of 2023. He made significant contributions to their title-winning campaign with ten goals and five assists across all competitions. Notably, he scored against Manchester United during a UEFA Champions League group stage match.

On the international front, Zaha initially represented England at youth levels before switching allegiance to Ivory Coast ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017. Since then, he has earned 33 caps and contributed four goals and six assists for his national team.

The transaction details confirm that Charlotte FC has acquired Wilfried Zaha on loan from Galatasaray until January 17, 2026. The club holds an option to extend this loan through June 30, 2026.