Charlotte FC acquired veteran forward Wilfried Zaha on loan from Turkish powerhouse Galatasary on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Ivory Coast international joins the MLS club through January 2026 with an option to extend the loan to June of that year.

Zaha will occupy a Designated Player spot on the Charlotte roster alongside forwards Liel 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 at the highest level of the sport as an elite goal scorer and chance creator. His performances in the Premier League and on the international level speak for themselves and we are confident that Wilfred can make an immediate impact in Major League Soccer,” Charlotte general manager Zoran Krneta said.

“He provides valuable versatility 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 squad, and we’re excited to welcome him to Charlotte.”

Internationally, Zaha has five goals in 33 caps for the 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