Charlotte FC's Top 15 Prospects

Updated by Andrew Crowell - @ajc10_11

Will Cleary (Photo courtesy of Joel Franquiz/TopBin90)

Here is our running list of Charlotte FC's top prospects. This list is based on a combination of potential, contract situation, and first-team opportunity.

The ranking is not solely based on potential or who we think has the highest ceiling based on their talent. We also key in on who is getting professional opportunities (especially with the First Team). This makes the pathway to first-team minutes equally pivotal to a player's ranking.

Here is our Charlotte FC prospect top 15 (updated monthly):

1. Will Cleary (23) - RB/LB

Will Cleary, 23, was an MLS SuperDraft selection in the first round of the 2026 draft out of Stanford University and has rapidly grown in favor of manager Dean Smith. He has made two appearances this season now, with a 15-minute cameo against Toronto FC and a place in the starting 11 against New England Revolution following the knock to starting right back Nathan Byrne. His performance against New England earned him Man of the Match, with more eyes on him for the rest of this season.

2. Rodolfo Aloko (19) - RW

The 19-year-old Beninese winger showed excellent attacking ability for Crown Legacy earlier this year, with eight goals and two assists in six appearances, which rewarded him with some first-team appearances. While he has not gotten on the scoresheet for the first team, he has netted two assists in eight appearances in all competitions for The Crown. With the departure of Wilfried Zaha this summer, it may open up more room in the starting 11 for the young winger. He was called up to the Benin National Team for friendlies against South Sudan and Togo during the May/June window.

3. Aron John (20) - CM

The 20-year-old homegrown midfielder has been a stalwart in the Crown Legacy team with 52 appearances so far, netting 9 goals and 14 assists. A Charlotte native, John joined the Charlotte FC Academy at the age of 16 and earned the first-ever Charlotte FC Academy Player of the Year award. He finally burst into the first team a bit this year, finally making his debut in the first home game of the season against Austin on March 9. Since that appearance, he has been featured on the bench most weeks. John was called up to the USYNT U20 camp in Bulgaria for two friendlies against Georgia and North Macedonia during this upcoming May/June window.

4. Nimfasha Berchimas (18) - LW

18-year-old American winger Nimfasha Berchimas hasn't featured for Charlotte FC since 2024, but has been highly regarded as a player to watch since he signed his first contract with the club in 2020 at the age of just 14 years and 268 days old, becoming the sixth-youngest player in MLS history to sign a professional contract at the time. For Crown Legacy this season, he has made 11 appearances with seven goals and one assist to his name, featuring in 88% of possible minutes for the team. Berchimas was called up to the USYNT U19 domestic camp that is happening during this May/June window.

5. Hugo Mbongue (21) - CF

21-year-old Canadian international Hugo Mbongue came to Charlotte on a free transfer from Toronto in February and hit the ground running with Crown Legacy, netting eight goals and three assists in 11 appearances.

6. Nathan Richmond (22) - Winger

22-year-old Nathan Richmond has made a name for himself with Crown Legacy this season as a playmaker, with eight assists and three goals in 12 appearances this season. The former Clemson Tiger has grown in his role with Legacy, playing not only as a winger but also as an attacking midfielder, showing versatility to go along with high-quality playmaking.

7. Andrej Subotic (19) - CM

Crown Legacy paid a fee of 1.5 million euros to sign Serbian international Subotic in January of 2025 from Cukaricki in the Serbian league, with little to show for it so far in the U.S. He has played a possible 38% of minutes for Crown Legacy with four assists in the eight appearances he has made so far. The best is yet to come for the young midfielder. 

8. Jack Neeley (21) - CB

21-year-old American centerback Jack Neeley is currently on loan at Charlotte Independence, but has been a member of the Charlotte FC family for a while, with 74 appearances for Crown Legacy and four cameo appearances with the First Team. He was the club's third homegrown player to sign a contract in March of 2023.

9. Willian Sangoquiza (20) - CB

Willian Sangoquiza is a 20-year-old Ecuadorian defender who is just beginning to break through in the Charlotte system with 32 appearances for the Crown Legacy, including more consistent minutes for the club this season. He has not featured since March 22 for the club, as he is currently out injured, but was named as the captain at the outset of the season.

10. Baye Coulibaly (20) - CM

20-year-old Malian midfielder Coulibaly joined the organization via Crown Legacy FC from Croatian side NK Kustosija Zagreb on Dec 18, 2024, for a reported fee of 2 million euros. A prospect for the future, he helped Mali place third at the 2023 U-17 World Cup and has found himself featuring consistently with Crown Legacy this season. He has played 92% of possible minutes this season, making nine appearances. 

11. Andrew Johnson (22) - CB

22 year old former Cornell defender Andrew Johnson was drafted in the second round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft and has burst into the Crown Legacy team this year, playing 92% of possible minutes in 11 appearances and even contributing two goals from the backline. 

12. Emmanuel Uchegbu (21) - Winger

The 21-year-old Nigerian winger Emmanuel Uchegbu was signed to Crown Legacy from Slovakian club AS Trencin in 2025 for a fee of 1 million euros, making 10 appearances and scoring two goals while playing a possible 42% of minutes.

13. Daniel Longo (21) - CM

21-year-old Daniel Longo was signed in February of this year after impressing in his 40 appearances with UNC Greensboro. The midfielder has made 10 appearances for Crown Legacy, registering two assists and playing 40% of possible minutes.

14. Simon Tonidandel (18) - CM

18-year-old Simon Tonidandei has featured off and on for Crown Legacy this season, recording one assist in eight appearances while featuring in 43% of potential minutes. At such a young age, the midfielder has yet to make his biggest impact for the club. 

15. Ashton Kamdem (22) - LB

Kamdem signed to Crown Legacy after 76 appearances with NCAA team Akron Zips where he received all-conference honors his senior year. Before his role with Akron, he came up through the FC Cincinnati academy system. He has featured 11 times for Crown Legacy this season, with one goal while playing 74% of possible minutes.

Stats via FBref and Transfermarkt