Five Charlotte FC storylines to watch in 2025
By Brian Maurer
Adilson Malanda is on multiple clubs' radars from the top five leagues in Europe (Photo courtesy of CJ Hellner)
The 2025 season is fast approaching. Teams will meet for the first phase of their preseason training in a couple of weeks. There are going to be several storylines to cover throughout the year. Here are five key Charlotte FC storylines to watch as they prepare for preseason:
The striker saga again
According to multiple reports, Karol Swiderski appears to be leaving for real this winter. Our own Jorge Gonzales also reported that he is hearing the club is looking for a “Grade A DP 9” as a replacement. This has been one of the most discussed and reported-on positions in Charlotte’s short history. The discussions and reporting will remain high as one striker likely leaves, another may be signed, and Patrick Agyemang continues to fight for minutes.
Dean Smith’s approach to the goal-creation problem
Dean Smith may have support for his 2024 goal-creation problem if Charlotte can get Miguel Almiron over the line. The club looks like they will also be able to negotiate Pep Biel’s contract down to a TAM-level deal, providing an additional goal-creation boost.
Once the offseason deals are done, Smith’s tactical approach to get his playmakers the ball in dangerous areas could be most important to Charlotte’s 2025 ambitions.
Charlotte FC’s defense after Kristijan Kahlina’s historically good season
Kristijan Kahlina had a historic season in 2024 leading him to win Goalkeeper of the Year. According to American Soccer Analysis, Kahlina had the second most goals prevented* in a season since 2013. That statistic means two things for Charlotte’s defense in 2025. First, Charlotte allowed a decent amount of attacking volume even if they didn’t allow many goals. Second, it is statistically unlikely that Kahlina can match that level of goals prevented again in 2025.
To maintain the level of defensive success in 2025, the Crown will need to reduce the amount of attacking volume they allow and increase the amount of control (either off-ball or on-ball control) to prevent a regression to the mean defensively. This is another key storyline as Charlotte fans will be counting on a stalwart defensive unit in 2025.
*goals prevented stat on ASA is measured by taking a GK's goals against minus the expected goals they faced (G-xG).
Adilson Malanda transfer rumors and how the team adjusts if they get a Godfather offer
Another key storyline to track on Charlotte FC’s backline is Adilson Malanda’s transfer rumors. If the figure that is offered for him continues to climb there could easily be a time when the Charlotte front office has to bite. It would be a key loss as Malanda is one of Charlotte’s most talented players, but they also had made some preparations for a situation like this when they signed Tim Ream last summer.
Nimfasha Berchimas is turning heads internationally
Charlotte’s top prospect, Nimfasha Berchimas, has been turning heads for over a year now. At the end of 2023, Berchimas scored three goals for the USYNT during the FIFA U17 World Cup at 15. Last summer, Berchimas hit a rocket for the US in the U20 CONCACAF Championship in the final against Mexico at just 16. This winter, the young winger was on a trial with Manchester United’s U18s which reportedly went well.
It looks like big things are ahead for Berchimas and it seems that the future could be getting pulled into the present for him.
