Charlotte FC's highest-paid players this season
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Charlotte FC's highest-paid player is winger Wilfried Zaha, the MLS Players Association's latest salary guide shows.
Why it matters: Charlotte FC's front office has long emphasized that they won't build the team around expensive players, but rather around players who fit the culture and the style of play the young club is trying to establish.
- Zaha, a former Premier League star, is the team's biggest signing to date.
State of play: 32-year-old Zaha has scored five goals in 18 MLS matches and has five assists for Charlotte. His base salary is $2.7 million and his guaranteed compensation is $2.8 million.
Zoom in: Charlotte has five players making at least $1 million, a first for the club:
- Winger Liel Abada at $2.5 million, midfielder Pep Biel at $1.5, plus defenders Tim Ream and Adilson Malanda at $1.1 million in guaranteed compensation, respectively.
- Abada and Zaha aren't subject to standard league salary cap rules, because they are designated players (DP).
Zoom out: Charlotte FC's total base salary has risen to $15.8 million and its total guaranteed compensation is now $17.1 million.
- By comparison, soccer superstar Lionel Messi's guaranteed compensation of $20.4 million. The Inter Miami star's guaranteed compensation is higher than 20 other teams' total guaranteed compensation.
- Go deeper: Messi makes more than some MLS teams
What we're watching: Patrick Agyemang, who has been making waves with the U.S. Men's National Team, is expected to depart Charlotte FC as a contract extension was not reached earlier this year. The 2023 MLS Super Draft pick's contract was through 2024 with options for 2025 and 2026.
- He is reportedly linked with a move to Derby County, a second-division team in England.
- Agyemang has scored six goals for Charlotte this season, the second-highest on the team. He is making $104,000.