Former Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha was acquired by Charlotte on a loan from Turkish club Galatasaray on Wednesday until next Jan. 17. Charlotte said it has the option to extend the loan through June 30, 2026. Zaha will be a designated player whose compensation and acquisition cost exceed the $743,750 salary budget charge maximum.

This, in all, appeared to have Zaha take stock and weigh the possibility of moving on. Word eventually made it the desk of Charlotte FC general manager Zoran Krneta that he wasn’t opposed to learning more about Major League Soccer. That’s when Krneta began to fall in love with the idea.

Ex-Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has joined MLS side Charlotte FC on loan until January 2026. The deal has an option to extend until June 2026, with Zaha linking up with former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith in the USA.

The 32-year-old has been on loan at Lyon in Ligue 1 but has made only one start as well as five substitute appearances.

GOAL spoke with Zaha and U.S. internationals Tim Ream and Patrick Agyemang to discuss what he'll bring to the MLS side

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.

Former Premier League star Wilfried Zaha on Wednesday joined Charlotte FC as a Designated Player on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray through January 2026, the MLS club announced. Zaha, 32, joined Lyon in Ligue 1 on loan from Galatasaray,