In or out? Wilfried Zaha and Charlotte FC mull the future 

CHARLOTTE FC

Charlotte FC forward Wilfried Zaha, who scored 10 goals in his first season with the Crown in 2025, is out of contract in July. He and Charlotte are talking about an extension, but nothing has been decided.

Do Wilfried Zaha and Charlotte FC have a future together?

The forward’s loan runs through July – which coincides with a key segment of the MLS season where the best teams try to position themselves for the postseason. As the campaign nears, the question is whether Charlotte and Zaha, who scored 10 goals in 31 matches last season share enough interest to close a new deal.

“We have (spoken),” Zaha said last month. “We plan to speak in more depth, probably after preseason. Just sit down and find out if we can come to some sort of agreement. So yeah, I’ve spoken to [sporting director Zoran Krneta], but we plan to speak in depth, probably in the preseason times.”

Zaha isn’t tipping his hand as to whether he’s leaning toward staying in Charlotte or moving on to another club. There are family considerations as well as the business aspect to deciding on his future with the Crown.

“That I don’t know,” said. “I have to have the talk. Like I said before, I feel comfortable here. My family are good. My son loves the school. I’m good. It’s just how the conversations go.” 

Regardless of those conversations, Zaha said he’ll put forth his best effort on the pitch. Although there’s no deal yet, he’s focused on achieving the shared goal of winning with a team that set club records for points (59) and wins (19) in 2025. 

“To be honest, I can only speak for myself,” he said. “I feel like the way I’m just made up is once I step on a pitch, I give 100% and then anything else that needs to be spoken about regarding the club, or whatever that can be done after. But once I step on a pitch, I give 100% to the team, to my players, where we’re all trying to reach one goal. 

“I’m not the type of person that will be on a pitch and just be disinterested. I’m too passionate about the game. I want to win so much that loyalty to my teammates, that's 100% once we step out on a pitch. Whatever goes on with the club that’s got nothing to do with the guys that I'm working day in, day out with.”

Still, business is business. Zaha understands clubs are looking out for their best interests and it’s imperative for players to do likewise. Supporters might focus only on who is on the pitch, but Zaha understands it doesn’t happen in a vacuum.

“That is I just how I feel,” he said. “People talk negatively about players and stuff, and when players want to go somewhere, all I’m saying is the truth. We have one career. Clubs churn out players day in, day out. There’s only one Wilfred Zaha; there’s only one whoever. So, if that player feels like he wants to go and he’s done, he’s given what he could to the club. Because realistically, on the other hand, if you’re not good enough, you’re out the door, and then there’s no sympathy outside. No one’s crying, no one cares.

“It will just be ‘Oh yeah, he was such a nice guy.’ But who cares about nice guys in football?”

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