# 2024 Charlotte FC season

The 2024 season was the third season for Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top flight of professional club soccer in the United States. The team is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was established in 2019. They made their MLS debut in the 2022 season. The 2024 season was their first for Charlotte FC under English head coach Dean Smith, who was hired in December 2023 and was the team's third manager.

## Summary

During the offseason, Charlotte FC were unable to retain Karol Swiderski, their leading goalscorer, along with striker Kamil Jozwiak and defender Guzmán Corujo. The team signed two midfielders and promoted two attacking players from their reserve team, Crown Legacy FC. Charlotte FC began their preseason in January at the Florida International University campus in Miami, where they trained for twelve days. The team then traveled to Indio, California, to play in the Coachella Valley Invitational, a friendly competition with other MLS teams. During five official preseason matches, Charlotte FC had two wins and three draws.
The team hosted New York City FC at Bank of America Stadium to open the regular season on February 24 in front of 62,291 spectators. Charlotte FC won 1–0 with a goal in the eighth minute from defender Adilson Malanda's header on a corner kick; it marked the first time that Charlotte FC had won their opening match of the season. Sixteen-year-old forward Nimfasha Berchimas, a homegrown player for Charlotte FC, entered the match as a substitute and became the ninth-youngest player to play in a regular season MLS match.

## Preseason results
### Key

Win  Draw  Loss  Void  Upcoming fixture

## Competitions

Charlotte FC will not participate in the 2024 U.S. Open Cup as part of a compromise agreement reached between MLS and U.S. Soccer to allow MLS Next Pro affiliate teams to instead play in the competition. Crown Legacy FC will enter in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup, while eight other MLS teams will enter in the round of 32.

### Major League Soccer
#### League tables

MLS Eastern Conference table (2024) :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 3 | FC Cincinnati | 34 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 59 | Qualification for round one |
| 4 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 52 | Qualification for round one |
| 5 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 51 | Qualification for round one |
| 6 | New York City FC | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 54 | 49 | +5 | 50 | Qualification for round one |
| 7 | New York Red Bulls | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 55 | 50 | +5 | 47 | Qualification for round one |
Overall MLS standings table :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 9 | Orlando City SC | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 59 | 50 | +9 | 52 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 |
| 10 | Minnesota United FC | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 58 | 49 | +9 | 52 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 |
| 11 | Charlotte FC | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 51 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 |
| 12 | Colorado Rapids | 34 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 61 | 60 | +1 | 50 | Qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup Round One |
| 13 | New York City FC | 34 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 54 | 49 | +5 | 50 | Qualification for the U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 |
* 1 2 As one of the top eight US teams in the overall table to not qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Champions Cup
* ↑ As third place of Leagues Cup

#### Regular season

The 2024 regular season schedule was released on December 20, 2023. Charlotte FC will play 34 matches—17 at home and 17 on the road—primarily against opponents from the Eastern Conference. The team will play each intra-conference opponent twice and six matches against teams from the Western Conference. The 2024 season marks the first time that Charlotte FC will play against Minnesota United FC and the Portland Timbers. A break in regular season play for the 2024 Leagues Cup begins in mid-July and ends in late August.

### Leagues Cup

The 2024 Leagues Cup was the second edition to feature all MLS and Liga MX teams during the month-long pause in the regular season from July to August. Charlotte FC was drawn into the East 4 group alongside the Philadelphia Union and Cruz Azul of Liga MX.

#### Group stage

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | PW | PL | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Philadelphia Union | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Cruz Azul | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 3 | Charlotte FC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −1 | 2 | |

## Players

For the 2024 season, Charlotte FC were permitted a maximum of 30 signed players on the first team, of which 10 roster positions were designated for supplemental and reserve players. A base salary cap of $5.47 million applied to the non-supplemental players with exceptions for certain categories, including up to three Designated Players who counted for a set amount in the cap.

### Roster

    As of October 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | CRO | Kristijan Kahlina |
| 3 | DF | USA | Tim Ream |
| 6 | DF | NZL | Bill Tuiloma |
| 7 | FW | ENG | Jamie Paterson |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Ashley Westwood (captain) |
| 9 | FW | POL | Karol Świderski (DP) |
| 9 | FW | ARG | Enzo Copetti (DP) |
| 10 | MF | ESP | Pep Biel (DP; on loan from Olympiacos) |
| 10 | MF | BEL | Brecht Dejaegere |
| 11 | FW | ISR | Liel Abada (DP) |
| 13 | MF | USA | Brandt Bronico |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Nathan Byrne |
| 15 | MF | USA | Ben Bender (GA) |
| 18 | FW | COL | Kerwin Vargas |
| 20 | DF | BRA | João Pedro |
| 21 | DF | FIN | Jere Uronen |
| 22 | GK | USA | David Bingham |
| 23 | MF | SRB | Nikola Petković |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 24 | DF | USA | Jaylin Lindsey |
| 25 | FW | ENG | Tyger Smalls |
| 26 | GK | USA | Chituru Odunze |
| 27 | FW | USA | Nimfasha Berchimas (HG) |
| 28 | MF | FRA | Djibril Diani |
| 29 | DF | FRA | Adilson Malanda |
| 30 | MF | BRA | Júnior Urso |
| 31 | GK | USA | George Marks |
| 32 | DF | SEN | Hamady Diop (GA) |
| 33 | FW | USA | Patrick Agyemang |
| 34 | MF | USA | Andrew Privett |
| 35 | MF | USA | Nick Scardina |
| 36 | MF | CAN | Brandon Cambridge (HG) |
| 37 | MF | CAN | Scott Arfield |
| 38 | FW | CPV | Iuri Tavares |
| 39 | DF | USA | Jack Neeley (HG) |
| 40 | DF | USA | Jahlane Forbes |
| 41 | FW | USA | Brian Romero (HG) |

#### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 11 | FW | POL | Karol Świderski (on loan to Hellas Verona until July) |
| 32 | DF | SEN | Hamady Diop (GA; on loan to Čukarički until January 2025) |

## Coaching staff

    As of February 2024
Technical staff :
| Head coach | Dean Smith |
| Assistant coach | Pa-Modou Kah |
| Assistant coach | Christian Fuchs |
| Sporting director | Zoran Krnet |
| Head of goalkeeping | Aron Hyde |
| Head video coach | Rohan Sachdev |

## Transfers
### In

Incoming transfers for Charlotte FC :
| Player | Nat. | No. | Pos. | Previous team | Notes | Date |
| Chituru Odunze | United States | 26 | GK | Crown Legacy FC | | January 18, 2024 |
| João Pedro Reginaldo | Brazil | 20 | DF | Crown Legacy FC | | January 18, 2024 |
| David Bingham | United States | 22 | GK | Portland Timbers | | January 30, 2024 |
| Djibril Diani | France | 28 | MF | SM Caen | | February 13, 2024 |
| Tyger Smalls | England | 25 | FW | Loyola Marymount Lions | 2024 MLS SuperDraft selection (14th overall) | February 14, 2024 |
| Jahlane Forbes | United States | 40 | DF | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | 2024 MLS SuperDraft selection (38th overall) | February 14, 2024 |
| Nikola Petković | Serbia | 25 | MF | Crown Legacy FC | | February 15, 2024 |
| Iuri Tavares | Cape Verde | 38 | FW | Crown Legacy FC | | February 20, 2024 |
| Júnior Urso | Brazil | 30 | MF | Orlando City SC | | February 21, 2024 |
| Liel Abada | Israel | 11 | MF | Celtic | Designated Player | March 7, 2024 |
| Karol Świderski | Poland | 11 | FW | Hellas Verona FC | Return from loan | July 1, 2024 |
| Tim Ream | United States | 3 | DF | Fulham | | August 7, 2024 |
| Pep Biel | Spain | 10 | MF | Olympiacos | Designated Player; on loan until December 31, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
| Jamie Paterson | England | 7 | FW | Swansea City | | August 22, 2024 |

### Out

Outgoing transfers for Charlotte FC :
| Player | Nat. | No. | Pos. | New team | Notes | Date |
| Harrison Afful | Ghana | 25 | DF | Crown Legacy FC | Option declined | October 30, 2023 |
| Chris Hegardt | United States | 19 | MF | Stabæk | Option declined | October 30, 2023 |
| Pablo Sisniega | Mexico | 23 | GK | San Antonio FC | Option declined | October 30, 2023 |
| Jan Sobociński | Poland | 2 | DF | PAS Giannina F.C. | Option declined | October 30, 2023 |
| Adrian Zendejas | United States | 30 | GK | Skövde AIK | Option declined | October 30, 2023 |
| Derrick Jones | United States | 20 | MF | Columbus Crew | Out of contract | October 30, 2023 |
| Justin Meram | Iraq | 22 | FW | Michigan Stars FC | Out of contract | October 30, 2023 |
| McKinze Gaines | United States | 17 | FW | Nashville SC | Traded for 2024 MLS SuperDraft second-round pick | December 14, 2023 |
| Karol Świderski | Poland | 11 | FW | Hellas Verona FC | Loaned until June 30 with option to purchase | February 1, 2024 |
| Kamil Jóźwiak | Poland | 7 | FW | Granada CF | | February 1, 2024 |
| Vinicius Mello | Brazil | 21 | FW | FK Čukarički | | February 6, 2024 |
| Guzmán Corujo | Uruguay | 4 | DF | FK Čukarički | | February 13, 2024 |
| Enzo Copetti | Argentina | 14 | FW | Rosario Central | | May 16, 2024 |
| Scott Arfield | Canada | 37 | MF | Bolton Wanderers | | July 12, 2024 |
| Hamady Diop | Senegal | 32 | DF | FK Čukarički | On loan until January 15, 2025 | July 13, 2024 |
| Brecht Dejaegere | Belgium | 10 | MF | K.V. Kortrijk | | August 16, 2024 |