Polish international with 14 caps and European Championship experience joins on a permanent transfer from Greek side PAOK
CHARLOTTE, NC (Wednesday, January 26, 2022) â Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed striker Karol Ĺwiderski from PAOK to a Designated Player contract through the 2025 season with an option for 2026.
The move is pending receipt of a P-1 visa and ITC. The 25-year-old will occupy an international roster slot on the Clubâs inaugural roster.
Ĺwiderski, who broke through with the Polish national team in 2021 and earned a spot on their roster for last summerâs European Championship, joined PAOK in 2018 and scored 35 goals in 135 appearances while adding 14 assists. In Greece, Ĺwiderski won three trophies including the 2018-19 Super League Greece and two Greek Cups.
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âWeâre delighted to welcome a player of Karolâs caliber to Charlotte FC to spearhead our attack. Heâs proven to be a lethal goal scorer at both the club and international level, and to secure his signing as our first Designated Player is an excellent achievement for our Club,â said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. âKarolâs profile as a striker is everything we need in a number nine and he is a player who is entering the prime of his career. His performances for Poland on the international stage speak for themselves and weâre confident Karol will be one of the toughest strikers to defend in the league. Additionally, he has a high work ethic, a title-winning mentality, and will bring excellent leadership and character into the locker room.â
The 25-year-old striker made his debut for Poland in March 2021 where he scored off the bench in a 3-0 World Cup Qualifier win against Andorra. Ĺwiderski would go on to make nine total appearances during the qualifying campaign, netting five goals en route to helping Poland to a second-place finish in Group I. With the second-place finish, Ĺwiderski and Poland will enter the UEFA World Cup Qualifying Playoffs in March to try and book their spot in the 2022 World Cup.
Ĺwiderski played in all three matches for Poland during last summerâs EURO 2020 which included starting in tandem with 2021 Ballon dâOr Striker of the Year, Robert Lewandowski, during a 1-1 draw against Spain.
The striker began his career in his native Poland when he signed his first professional contract with Jagiellonia BiaĹystok. He would score 25 goals in 128 appearances for Jagiellonia before being bought by PAOK.
Ĺwiderski is the second Polish player on CLTFCâs inaugural roster following Jan Sobocinski. The pair know each other well having gone to school together in their childhood.
Transaction: Charlotte FC acquire striker Karol Ĺwiderski from PAOK on a Designated Player contract
Name: Karol Ĺwiderski
Position: Forward
Height: 6â0â
Weight: 170 lbs
Date of Birth: January 23, 1997
Age: 25
Birthplace: Rawicz, PolandÂ
Last Club: PAOK (Pow - k)
How Acquired: Permanent transfer; Signed to Designated Player contract
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