Wilfried Zaha

Charlotte FC acquired Ivory Coast forward Wilfried Zaha on loan from Galatasaray S.K. on Jan. 22, 2025.

Zaha joins the Club following a short stint in Turkey and France. He joined Turkish giants Galatasaray S.K. in the summer of 2023, where he made 43 appearances across all competitions and scored 10 goals while adding five assists during the club’s title winning campaign. Following one match in the TFF Süper Kupa in the 2024/25 season, the forward was sent on loan to Lyon of Ligue 1 and appeared in six matches, including two appearances in the UEFA Europa League.

The Ivorian forward spent most of his career in London with Crystal Palace of the English Premier League. He joined the Eagles as an 8-year-old and made his professional debut at age 17 in the EFL Championship during the 2009/10 season and the following season he made 41 league appearances. His performances in the Championship caught the eye of Manchester United, who signed him during the January window in 2013, but remained on loan with Palace through the remainder of the season. His six goals and seven assists in the 2012/13 season helped Palace to a berth in the EFL Championship Playoffs, where Zaha scored two goals in the second leg of a Semifinal matchup against Brighton & Hove Albion en route to a Premier League return.

He made four appearances for United before being sent on loan to Cardiff City, where he featured 13 times in all competitions. He returned to Palace on loan for the 2014/15 season before the move was made permanent in 2015. He ended his time with Crystal Palace having played the third most matches in club history (458) and 10th in goals scored (90).

International: Has 33 caps for the Ivory Coast, having scored four goals and provided six assists. Made his senior debut against Sweden in January 2017, registering an assist. Represented England at the youth levels, earning a call up to the senior squad in 2012 and appeared in a friendly match against Sweden. He made a second appearance with the Three Lions before changing his allegiance to the Ivory Coast ahead of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.