Charlotte FC outgoing transfers: Checking in on Patrick Agyemang and Adilson Malanda

By Sam Vanolinda

Adilson Malanda (photo courtesy of CJ Hellner/Topbin90)

Adilson Malanda and Patrick Agyemang are two immensely talented players who made their way to the Championship in England in 2025 after starting their careers with Charlotte FC.

It is always fun to watch players who developed with your team move on to success elsewhere. While you may have seen some highlights or chatter about both players on your timeline, in this article, I will take a deeper look into how Agyemang and Malanda have settled into Championship football.

 A deeper look

Agyemang has played 23 games for Derby County so far this season, totalling over 1600 minutes. He currently has seven goals and three assists, an impressive stat line for a 25-year-old adjusting to English-style play.

With Derby's starting striker, Carlton Morris, injured, Agyemang has taken the opportunity to prove himself. He is tied for the most goal contributions for the club, and Derby has scored in 18 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the league.

Derby County is currently in 12th place in the Championship, with ten wins, eight draws, and nine losses.

Agyemang picked up the Man of the Match and EFL Championship team of the week honors when he scored a brace against Sheffield Wednesday, as well as winning December Goal of the Month for Derby with his strike against Hillsborough.

As I was writing this article, Agyemang scored an 82nd-minute winner in his latest Championship game against Preston North End, sending the away fans into a frenzy:

Agyemang's star continues to rise with this late winner. He has instantly become a fan favorite for Derby County as he helps move the club up the table.

Malanda, on the other hand, has played only two league matches for Middlesbrough and has one appearance in an FA Cup loss to Fulham.

The first league game was a 4-0 victory against Southampton, in which the Frenchman quickly showed his class. He led the match in clearances and recoveries.

Middlesbrough fans on X had nothing but praise for Malanda after his first game. @DaveyLawrence said, "Based on that performance, we have some player on our hands here. Oozes class, authority, charisma, and composure. Superb reading of the game, good touch, and range of passing. He's mint!"

@mar_boro14 added: "Absolutely immense. Don’t wanna get carried away, but he looked like a Premier League defender playing in the Championship out there today."

It was obvious to Charlotte fans that Malanda had the quality to play in any league, not only on the defensive side, but with his passing and composure on the ball. While he is just starting his career in Middlesbrough, he has already left a good impression on the fans.

The head coach of Middlesbrough, Kim Hellberg, said this about Malanda before he even touched the field:

"He has impressed me in the way he talks and acts, and he looks like a top human being, and also a very good footballer. We have to have a bit of patience with him, because he’s coming straight from a break into English football. We’ve got to give him the best conditions to be good when he plays."

Middlesbrough is currently looking like a promotion favorite, sitting in second place behind Coventry in the Championship table. The fans will hope that Malanda continues to provide solid performances as they push through the season.

I was able to contact a Derby County fan that I know personally to ask about Agyemang; Robert Jones is a lifelong Rams fan and ex-leader of the Derbyshire Council:

"The EFL Championship is a very physical division. Even more than the Premier League. He took some time to come to terms with that, but is now demonstrating his speed and strength. He is clearly an asset to the side, though his all-around play is still a work in progress; he clearly has great potential. He has a bright future in English football."

Agyemang is putting pressure on defenses just like he did at Charlotte, in an even more physical league. As Jones said, he still has some improvement to make all around. He looks to have the potential to be an important player for Derby County now and in the future.

Malanda is only two games into his Championship career, but he is already a starter for Middlesbrough. He will also be a key player for The Boro as they hope to play in the Premier League next season.