World Cup free agents that could be of interest to teams like Charlotte FC

By Brian Maurer

Leon Goretzka (Photo courtesy of Fabrizio Bertani / GocherImagery)

Just over a week ago, Tom Bogert wrote an article for The Athletic where he discussed World Cup stars with expiring contracts that should be courted by teams in MLS. His reasoning was simple: they are actively looking for a next step with their expiring contracts, they are playing here for the World Cup, and many are using MLS facilities.

I broadened the scope of that search to include more than just the big-name stars, but to look at World Cup players at large on expiring contracts to see if there are some other options worth adding to a list more specific to a Charlotte FC summer window search.

Given that the Crown has already replaced Wilfried Zaha with Allan Saint-Maximin, this list is dependent on the club freeing up another Designated Player (DP) spot, specifically the one occupied by Liel Abada.

Memphis Depay - Netherlands - Center Forward/Second Striker

Bogert mentioned Memphis Depay being a fit in Charlotte when he wrote his piece. Of course, things have changed since then, as he was considering him a potential Zaha replacement. With Saint-Maximin being added as the Zaha replacement, Depay would now be fitting into a different role.

Depay was considered a free-roaming option by Bogert, and that could still fit and make sense as a replacement for Abada. Of course, the question becomes how you also fit Pep Biel around him.

If Depay and the club could come to an agreement on a short-term deal, this would be a win-now type of move to help push Charlotte's attack over the edge as they push for their end-of-year goals.

His 2026 season has not gone well at Brazilian club Corinthians, but in 2025, he had 22 goal contributions (12g/10a).

Leon Goretzka - Germany - Center midfielder

Bogert included Leon Goretzka in his article as an option for the Chicago Fire. Sources have been reporting that indeed the Fire is pursuing Goretzka as well as Robert Lewandowski, the question would be how the Fire fits both stars on their roster with only one DP spot open.

Goretzka and the German National Team are training in North Carolina, so if there is a chance Charlotte can work their way into the conversation, then it would make a lot of sense for them to give it a go.

Goretzka would be capable of filling multiple roles in the midfield and has played at the top level for a long, long time with Bayern Munich.

Franck Kessie - Ivory Coast - Center midfielder

Franck Kessie is another central midfielder who would be capable of filling multiple roles and has played at some of the best clubs and leagues in the world. He just finished his third season at Al-Ahli, where he had 41 goal contributions (26g/15a) in 119 games.

Kessie was teammates with Charlotte's newest reported signing, Saint-Maximin, as the French winger played with Kessie at Al-Ahli for the 2023/24 season. Kessie, at 29, would be a longer-term option as he still has prime years left.

Xaver Schlager - Austria - Center midfielder

The Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager (28) has made 150 Bundesliga appearances between his stints at Leipzig and Wolfsburg. Like Kessie, he would be a longer-term center mid option as he still has prime years left. Charlotte also has an Austrian connection as their first club captain was Austrian legend Christian Fuchs, as well as currently rostered left-back David Schnegg.

With the recent influx of Bundesliga stars coming to MLS, Schlager feels like an option that would be on multiple MLS lists. This would be another situation that would likely require a long-term deal to make happen.

Daichi Kamada - Japan - Attacking midfielder/center midfielder

Signing Daichi Kamada would be more of an aggressive attacking-minded option compared to Schlager and Kessie. It would likely be another situation where Charlotte would have to figure out how to fit him in with Biel, similar to a signing like Depay.

Again, the Crown is in win-now mode, so making moves like this and giving the club multiple options is paramount if they are going to find a way to push towards their goals of silverware by the end of the season.

Kamada's recent stops at Crystal Palace and Lazio haven't been as productive, but his years at Eintracht Frankfurt put his name on the map after four straight seasons there with double-digit goal contributions.