From Europe to the US: What to know about Wilfred Zaha

Transfers are a crucial part in the world of soccer. Ask any soccer fan and they will tell you where they were when Barcelona paid 88 million Euros to bring Brazilian wonderkid Neymar to Spain or when Lionel Messi took his talents to South Beach.

Photo Credit: Charlotte FC

Big news hit the Crown on January 22nd when Charlotte FC announced Wilfred Zaha would be coming to the MLS on loan from Galatasaray. I am a huge fan of this move and think Wilfred adds another dimension to the attack this season. With Patrick Agyemang taking over for Karol Świderski after his move to Olympiacos, I have high hopes for the attack this season and can’t wait to watch Wilfred cross the ball to Pat in the box.

Wilfred brings experience both at the international and club level. Representing Côte d'Ivoire or the Ivory Coast, Zaha has made 11 appearances with seven starts in the Africa Cup of Nations and in these 11 matches he has scored twice and assisted twice. In the 2022 edition of the tournament, Wilfred helped take the Elephants to the Round of 16 where they fell to eventual runners-up Egypt on penalties. Representing your country is a huge honor for any player and the expirence gained can be valuable for a club team with some players starting to get called up to their national teams. If the English Premier League is the gold standard for the club level in world football, Wilfred knows how to hold his own at the top. He spent a decade in England's top league with three teams: Manchester United, Cardiff City, and Crystal Palace. He spent most of his time in South London with Crystal Palace. He made his debut for the club at age 16 in the 2009-2010 season where he made one appearance. The following season, Wilfred scored his first goal for the club at age 17 and started to see regular playing time, appearing 41 times and starting in 26 of those matches. Over 13 seasons with Crystal Palace, Zaha found the back of the net 81 times while assisting teammates 43 times. After leaving England, Wilfred captured his first league title, helping Galatasaray win the Turkish Süper Lig in the 2023-2024 season where he scored nine times and added three assists in his 13 starts. His club career and accolades are certainly impressive, here's to hoping he can add to them with Charlotte.

Zaha is listed at 6 foot tall and 146 pounds according to the club website, he is a forward who primarily plays on the left wing. He is a fantastic dribbler with a wide variety of dribbling moves which allow him to move past defenders towards the goal. Once he has the ball, he can create for himself or cross the ball into a teammate to set up their scoring chance. Coach Dean Smith appears to be excited by this new addition Speaking at the Preseason Press Conference, Smith talked about consistency in the final third which is something he (and Charlotte fans) hope Wilfred can add to the team. As for his fit with the team, I see Zaha playing on the wing where he will be able to create oppurtunities for teammates with his excellent passing skill or take matters into his own hands and create chances for himself. Having a physically strong forward who takes care of the ball and is a threat to score or assist once he cuts inside should open up the attack to be more dynamic. 

In my opinion, this was the perfect move for the club to make. You have a player with international experience who has proven himself in one of if not the best leagues in the world. It also appears that the city has already welcomed Zaha with open arms. I am excited for this season of MLS soccer in Charlotte and can’t wait to see Wilfred take the pitch at the Bank. Welcome to the 704 Wilfred and best of luck this season!