Filling the Archie void: International free agents Charlotte FC could add before the deadline
By Billy McGee - @iambillymcgee
As we near the October 9 roster freeze, Charlotte FC is running out of time to add a free agent who could help improve the squad and add depth after Archie Goodwin's season-ending injury. Charlotte could opt for a like-for-like replacement with another striker or go for a wide player and use an in-house option as the second-choice striker. The club could also choose to sign a different position entirely if they feel help is needed more elsewhere.
In a previous article about replacing Goodwin, we highlighted a handful of center forwards, both MLS free agents and international free agents. The international free agents included Karim Benzema (38), Mauro Icardi (33), Anthony Martial (30), Joselu (36), Alan Pulido (35), and Wissam Ben Yedder (36), while the MLS free agent options were more limited, with Corey Baird (30), Khiry Shelton (33), and Teal Bunbury (36) being available.
Other MLS free agent options look bleak, but there are still some notable international free agents the club could look at, including some with MLS experience.
Some top international free agents not already mentioned include:
Jadon Sancho (26)
Abdoulaye Doucouré (33)
Riyad Mahrez (35)
Raheem Sterling (31)
Ryan Kent (29)
Cedric Tuechert (29)
Kent and Tuechert both have experience playing in MLS, with Kent appearing in 21 games across all competitions for the Seattle Sounders in 2025, where he recorded five assists. Tuechert made 49 appearances across three seasons for St. Louis City SC, scoring 10 goals and assisting another seven.
As mentioned in the previous article about replacing Archie Goodwin, many of these international free agents may demand a salary in the DP range, but could be negotiated to start off on a TAM deal and later become a DP.
With the deadline for adding players to the roster being so close, Charlotte FC will need to make a signing sooner rather than later if they want to bolster the roster for the final stretch of the regular season and the playoffs.
