Charlotte FC 2024 Season Preview

MLSsoccer staff

2024 Schedule

Strength: Uh… they are, um… well, you see… uh… I guess they’re unpredictable? Nobody will know what to expect! They are, at the very least, solid in goal. Which was nice to see, because Kristijan Kahlina struggled in goal during his first MLS season.
Weakness: How many of these guys would start on most playoff-caliber teams? How many of these guys would you wager are starters for Charlotte 12 months from now?

Guzmán Corujo: After missing most of last season with an ACL tear, the Uruguayan center back – as well as U22 Initiative winger Vinicius Mello – got transferred to Serbian top-flight side FK Čukarički. Corujo was crucial in Charlotte's 2022 expansion season.
Kamil Józwiak: Józwiak fell short of his Designated Player roster tag upon arriving from Derby County in March 2022, both under inaugural manager Miguel Ángel Ramírez and replacement boss Christian Lattanzio. It came as no surprise this winter when he got transferred to LaLiga side Granada.
Karol Swiderski: Swiderski is on loan (with a purchase option) at Italian Serie A side Hellas Verona through the summer, opening a second DP spot as Charlotte start life under head coach Dean Smith. The Polish international forward was their best player the past two seasons, though was vocal about wanting to return to Europe.

Djibril Diani: A long-time transfer target, Diani joins from Ligue 2 side SM Caen. The Frenchman is a left-footed midfielder who can also play as a left-sided center back.
Nikola Petković: Petković is one of several Crown Legacy FC players to move up from MLS NEXT Pro to Charlotte's first team. The Serbian international midfielder occupies a U22 Initiative roster spot and joined the club for an initial reported $3 million a year ago.
TBD: While not yet official, Charlotte are heavily linked with forward Luciano Rodríguez. The Uruguayan youth international would reportedly command a hefty transfer fee.
Full roster