Polish international with 14 caps and European Championship experience joins on a permanent transfer from Greek side PAOK
CHARLOTTE, NC (Wednesday, January 26, 2022) 鈥 Charlotte FC today announced the Club has signed striker Karol 艢widerski 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 Club鈥檚 inaugural roster.
艢widerski, who broke through with the Polish national team in 2021 and earned a spot on their roster for last summer鈥檚 European Championship, joined PAOK in 2018 and scored 35 goals in 135 appearances while adding 14 assists. In Greece, 艢widerski won three trophies including the 2018-19 Super League Greece and two Greek Cups.
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鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to welcome a player of Karol鈥檚 caliber to Charlotte FC to spearhead our attack. He鈥檚 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,鈥 said Sporting Director Zoran Krneta. 鈥淜arol鈥檚 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 we鈥檙e 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.鈥
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. 艢widerski 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, 艢widerski and Poland will enter the UEFA World Cup Qualifying Playoffs in March to try and book their spot in the 2022 World Cup.
艢widerski played in all three matches for Poland during last summer鈥檚 EURO 2020 which included starting in tandem with 2021 Ballon d鈥橭r 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 Bia艂ystok. He would score 25 goals in 128 appearances for Jagiellonia before being bought by PAOK.
艢widerski is the second Polish player on CLTFC鈥檚 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 艢widerski from PAOK on a Designated Player contract
Name: Karol 艢widerski
Position: Forward
Height: 6鈥0鈥
Weight: 170 lbs
Date of Birth: January 23, 1997
Age: 25
Birthplace: Rawicz, Poland聽
Last Club: PAOK (Pow - k)
How Acquired: Permanent transfer; Signed to Designated Player contract
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