Players Charlotte FC could pick in the 2025 SuperDraft
By Brian Maurer
Tonight is the 2025 SuperDraft where MLS clubs can select college players to add to their rosters. Some clubs value the SuperDraft more than others. The Philadelphia Union made a wild trade recently, sending all their picks for the next three years to the Colorado Rapids for general allocation money. This trade is likely a win-win as the Union wanted to keep those roster spots open for their academy players. Colorado recently transferred one of their SuperDraft picks, Moise Bombito, to OGC Nice for a fee north of $7 million. Both teams can now recruit and build their rosters the way they want even more than before.
Charlotte FC has invested in the SuperDraft with multiple trades back into the First Round. Charlotte traded up for the first pick in 2023 to select Hamady Diop, who was just selected by San Diego FC in their Expansion Draft. They also traded back into the First Round a second time in 2023 to select Patrick Agyemang. In 2024, Charlotte traded up to select Tyger Smalls in the First Round.
Former Third Round SuperDraft selection Andrew Privett recently signed a new long-term contract with the Crown and has been a regular starter for the past year and a half. Charlotte has invested in multiple SuperDrafts and they have been able to find multiple players from the college pathway who earned First Team roles.
Here are some players to keep an eye on that Charlotte FC could select in this year's SuperDraft:
Generation Adidas signings
The Generation Adidas class this year includes four signings. There was also one pre-signed senior. These players have all already been signed to pro contracts so this means they are very highly considered prospects going into the draft and one of them will likely be picked first overall. Charlotte FC picked Generation Adidas players first overall in 2022 and 2023, Ben Bender and Diop. These players would most likely require Charlotte to trade up to one of the top picks in the draft.
Max Floriani - Defender - St. Louis - Floriani is a pre-signed senior who has been a regular for St. Louis since 2022. According to American Soccer Analysis and other sources familiar with Floriani, he is a very versatile defender capable of playing multiple roles center-back, right elbow-back, or right full-back. He is a top prospect and candidate to go first overall.
Dean Boltz - Forward - Wisconsin - According to MLSSoccer's Travis Clark, Boltz is a "developmental player" who brings "plenty of upside". He was named the MLS NEXT MVP in the U19 age group last season. Another candidate who will likely be selected high in the draft.
Manu Duah - Midfielder - UC Santa Barbara - Duah is a freshman who became eligible for the draft as a GA signing. According to American Soccer Analysis and other sources familiar with Duah, he is a top prospect with a high-level work rate and defensive acumen. He is a holding midfielder who also has the work rate to be a box-to-box midfielder because of the ground he covers.
Alex Harris - Forward - Cornell - According to American Soccer Analysis Harris has the most growth potential of any forward in this class. He also has some impressive numbers as he contributed to 31 goals in 34 college games.
Tate Johnson - Left-back - UNC - Johnson is a freshman who became eligible once he signed a GA contract. According to American Soccer Analysis and other sources, he is capable of getting up and down the sideline quickly and has a good engine that can make "slashing runs or well-placed passes." Johnson is an interesting GA candidate for Charlotte FC as the club is already familiar with him because of the time he spent with Crown Legacy FC before going to college. MLSSoccer also has him dropping to 16th in their mock draft. One pick before Charlotte.
Other top prospects
American Soccer Analysis released a detailed breakdown of the prospects available for selection in the SuperDraft here are other players grouped in their determined Tier 1 that do not have GA or pre-signed senior deals:
Emil Jaaskelainen - Forward - University of Akron - MLSSoccer's mock draft has him going 28th overall to the Seattle Sounders. According to other sources, he is a fox in the box with excellent finishing qualities.
Alec Hughes - Forward - University of Massachusetts - MLSSoccer's mock draft has him going fourth overall. He is a USL 2 Golden Boot winner.
Daniel Ittycheria - Forward - Princeton - MLSSoccer's mock draft has him going 29th overall. American Soccer Analysis' reporting has many of his underlying metrics ranked higher than most other forwards in this draft class.
Hakim Karamoko - Winger - NC State - MLSSoccer's mock draft has him going 26th overall. American Soccer Analysis considers him an intriguing prospect because of his ability on the right side as a left-footed player. According to other sources, he is a "powerful left-footed attacking player."
Alioune Ka - Winger - Cornell - MLSSoccer's mock draft has him going 27th overall. American Soccer Analysis' breakdown he is a capable two-way winger willing to both make offensive runs and make challenges defensively.
Michael Adedokun - Attacking Midfielder/Forward - Ohio State - MLSSoccer does not have him projected in the First Round but American Soccer Analysis considers him a Tier 1 prospect. This could be an interesting prospect to monitor as some sources deem him to have a higher value than others.
Sydney Wathuta - Attacking Midfielder - Vermont - Another intriguing American Soccer Analysis Tier 1 prospect who is not projected to go in the First Round by MLSSoccer. According to ASA, he was one of the "heroes of the NCAA National Championship Game."
Nick Fernandez - Center Midfielder - Portland - MLSSoccer has him projected to go 25th overall. American Soccer Analysis says he was one of the season's "top performers."
Joran Gerbet - Defensive Midfielder - Clemson - MLSSoccer's Travis Clark projects him to go 21st overall. American Soccer Analysis considers his age and international status as the only potential hold-ups in drafting Gerbet.
Jesus De Vicente - Left-back - University of Illinois-Chicago - MLSSoccer does not project him to go in the First Round. American Soccer Analysis rates him as the best defensive wide player.
Arthur Duquenne - Left-back - Clemson - MLSSoccer does not project him to go in the First Round. American Soccer Analysis states "an '05 with significant potential for growth."
Daniel Moore - Defender - Charlotte - MLSSoccer does not project him to go in the First Round. American Soccer Analysis rates him as one of the highest-rated defenders.
Jansen Miller - Center-back - Indiana - MLSSoccer's Travis Clark projects Miller to go 15th overall. Clark states "Miller boosted his stock with a strong 2024 season". American Soccer Analysis states he is also "capable of driving into the attacking third and taking on opponents."
Zach Barrett - Center-back - Vermont - MLSSoccer does not project Barrett to go in the First Round. He played the game-winning assist in the National Championship game. American Soccer Analysis states he has a high-level ability to create chances.
Moussa N'Diaye - Center-back - VCU - MLSSoccer does not project him to go in the First Round. American Soccer Analysis states that N'Diaye is "a ball progression machine."
Prospects with a connection to the Carolinas
Many high-level prospects in the draft also have a connection to the Carolinas either because of their college or where they grew up. Charlotte FC has been known to draft several players from the region, and they have drafted a player from Clemson in every SuperDraft so far. Here is a list of prospects with a connection to the Carolinas that Charlotte could draft this year:
Jefferson Amaya - Center Midfielder - High Point University - MLSSoccer's Travis Clark projects Charlotte FC to pick Amaya 17th overall. According to other sources, Amaya has been one of the center midfielders in the country over the past three seasons.
Nicolas Cavallo - Left-back - UCLA - Cavallo spent four years at Davidson. MLSSoccer does not project him to go in the First Round. According to sources, he is dangerous in crossing areas.
Ryan Baer - Midfielder - West Virginia - Charlotte native who can play multiple roles. He is also a former Charlotte Independence player.
Charlie Harper - Center-back - UNC - American Soccer Analysis ranks Harper as a Tier 2 prospect. According to other sources, he might be the most MLS-ready center-back in this draft class. Not currently projected to go in the First Round by MLSSoccer. He would take up an international spot which could make him fall in the draft.
Willie Cardona - Right-back - Virginia Tech - Fort Mill, SC native who transferred from Winthrop to Virginia Tech. According to sources, he has good ability to play progressive passes.
Ian Pilcher - Center-back - Charlotte - Pilcher is a former Charlotte Soccer Academy product who is ranked as a Tier 2 player by American Soccer Analysis.
Adam Lundegard - Midfielder/Center-back - Clemson - Lundegard played center-back on Clemson's National Championship-winning team in 2023. He would take up an international roster spot.
Trace Alphin - Goalkeeper - Wake Forest - Alphin is an undersized shot-stopper who profiles similarly to Charlotte FC's George Marks.
Brendan Krueger - Attacking Midfielder - High Point University - Krueger helped High Point get a big win over top-seeded Pittsburgh in mid-October and could profile as an ideal late-round pick who could develop on a Second Team.
