TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Signing
Charlotte FC have signed former English Premier League midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré for the remainder of the 2026 season, the club announced on Saturday.
The 33-year-old free agent was signed before the 2026 MLS Roster Freeze Deadline on October 9.
Doucouré accrued 38g/26 in 307 appearances for Everton and Watford across all competitions. He also had 16g/14 in 92 appearances for Rennes.
Doucouré most recently competed for NEOM SC in the Saudi Pro League.
Internationally, Doucouré competed for France at various youth levels before making the one-time switch to Mali. He was capped twice for Les Aigles during 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Charlotte FC also signed forward Hugo Mbongue and midfielder Nathan Richmond from MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Crown Legacy through the 2027 MLS Sprint season with options for the 2027-28 and 2028-29 MLS seasons.
To remain roster compliant, Charlotte FC moved both Archie Goodwin and Aron John to the Season-Ending Injury list.
“Abdoulaye, Hugo and Nathan are three additions that we hope will bring balance, competition and raise the overall level of our roster. We felt it was a great opportunity to add both an experienced Premier League midfielder while continuing to promote Crown Legacy players to the first team,” general manager Zoran Krneta said.
“Abdoulaye is someone who comes to us with expansive Premier League experience, great technical ability and a strong ability to connect play to advance the ball from the midfield up the field to the final third. Hugo and Nathan have had outstanding seasons at the MLS NEXT Pro level to warrant their promotions and can’t wait to see their continued growth within the organization.”
READ MORE: MLS Transfer Tracker
