In the buildup to Charlotte FC’s inaugural season, members of the roster will earn valuable game time with other clubs around the world. Every month before first kick, CharlotteFootballClub.com will check in with our Loan Stars to report on their progress…
Sergio Ruiz (Las Palmas)
Ruiz’s excellent form in the Spanish Segunda division continued through April. After kicking off the month on the league’s Team of the Week, Charlotte FC’s first-ever signing notched two assists in Las Palmas’ 6-1 demolition of Lugo.
Ruiz earned the joint-highest rating in the match (per FotMob) and is the team’s second-highest goalscorer on the season (five goals and five assist in 2020-21).
Riley McGree (Birmingham City)
Australian midfielder McGree made his breakthrough in Lee Bowyer’s Birmingham City squad in April. The 22-year-old played the full 90 against Premier League promotion-hopefuls Brentford and was showered with praise by Birmingham fans.
McGree has featured in each Birmingham league match since, drawing plaudits for a performance in a 1-0 win over Rotherham in which he boasted a 76% pass completion rate and won five duels (per FotMob).
April also saw the three-year anniversary of McGree’s world-renowned ‘scorpion kick’ goal, for which he was nominated for FIFA’s Puskas Award (which recognizes the year’s most beautiful goal).
Brandt Bronico (Charlotte Independence)
North Carolina native Bronico spent April gearing up for his professional soccer debut in Charlotte, on loan with the Independence.
“Training has been going well,” says Bronico. “I’m feeling sharp and the guys are learning the tactics we want to implement. We are building chemistry together and growing as a team every session, so that’s good as well. Overall, it feels great to be playing soccer back in the Queen City!”
The city’s USL side kicked off their 2021 campaign on Saturday, May 1st, with a road game at the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Bronico played the full 90 in the 3-0 defeat, registering two shots and 86% pass completion (per FotMob).
Jan Sobociński (ŁKS Łódź)
Charlotte FC’s most recent roster addition is helping ŁKS Łódź chase promotion to the Polish top division. Łódź ended the month in fifth position in the I Liga, and firmly in the playoff hunt.
Sobociński played the full 90 in a 1-0 win over GKS Bełchatów and was ever-present the following week in a 1-0 defeat at Resovia Rzeszów.
