Archie Goodwin out for the season: Can Charlotte FC find a replacement in time?
By Brian Maurer
Dean Smith told media members that striker Archie Goodwin will miss the rest of the 2026 season with a ruptured tendon in his foot. As things stand that leaves Idan Toklomati and Tyger Smalls as the only players on the roster who have earned meaningful minutes at striker this season.
Smith mentioned that the club is looking at potential options both internally and externally as they look to fill Goodwin's role as they push towards the playoffs.
The roster freeze is October 9 so the club has until then to sign a free agent if they look for solutions outside of the club. After the allocation money accrued from the Kerwin Vargas transfer, and acquiring an international roster spot the Crown should be able to sign any international or domestic striker willing to come in on a non-Designated Player deal. The maximum salary at that threshold is currently $1,803,125 for the year so the ability to spend on suitable solution is there if they can come to an agreement externally.
Internally the most obvious solution is Hugo Mbongue who leads their development team Crown Legacy FC with 14 goals and has helped the second team clinch the top spot in the Eastern Conference for playoffs.
Charlotte could also place Archie Goodwin on the Season Ending Injury list which would then open a second spot for the 2026 season. This could give the club the option to both sign a solution internally, like Mbongue, while also signing a reinforcement in free agency.
Here is a short list of current free agents at striker*:
International Free Agents
Karim Benzema (Age 38) - Left Al-Hilal end of 2025/26 season
Mauro Icardi (33) - Left Galatasaray end of 2025/26 season
Anthony Martial (30) - Left Monterrey end of 2025/26 season
Joselu (36) - Left Al-Gharafa end of 2025/26 season
Alan Pulido (35) - Left Chivas April, 2026 (also played with Sporting KC in MLS)
Wissam Ben Yedder (36) - Left Wydad AC end of 2025/26 season
MLS Free Agents
Corey Baird (30) - Left San Diego end of 2025 season
Khiry Shelton (33) - Left Sporting KC end of 2025 season
Teal Bunbury (36) - Left Nashville end of 2025 season
Many of the top international free agents available would be in the DP range but perhaps could be negotiated on a TAM deal to start. Those players like Benzema and Icardi would potentially change the dynamic of Charlotte's roster and push Toklomati's minutes.
The current MLS free agent pool is far more limited at center forward and would more likely slot in as experienced depth. They would all provide different traits to what Toklomati and Smalls currently offer.
*Pulled from Transfermarkt and MLSPA
