- Hometown: Yaounde, Cameroon
- Two caps for the Cameroon national team
- Veteran midfielder brings global experience, most recently with Gabala (Azerbaijan) in 2025 after stops across France, Spain, Israel, Scotland, and England
- Has made 299 professional appearances, including 138 combined with FC Sochaux and Dundee United
- Former France youth international (16 appearances, U-20 World Cup)
3. MIDFIELDERS
Matthew Arango
- Hometown: Charlotte, NC
- Second season on an academy contract
- Made one appearance in 2025 in the U.S. Open Cup First Round
- Set to join Stetson University in fall 2026
Enzo Martinez
- Hometown: Montevideo, Uruguay
- Charlotte Independence all-time leader in goals and assists while ranking third in club history in appearances.
- Two-time USL Championship MVP finalist (2016, 2017) and named USL Championship All-League First Team in both seasons.
- 79 career USL Championship goals, ranking sixth in league history across stints with Charlotte Independence and Birmingham Legion FC.
- Made 148 appearances for Birmingham Legion FC (2021–2024), recording 36 goals and 26 assists and earning USL Championship All-League First Team honors in 2022.
Jefferson Amaya
- Hometown: Charlotte, NC
- Former Charlotte Independence academy player, originally signing with the club in March 2022 and making nine first-team appearances across all competitions during the 2022 season.
- Decorated midfielder at High Point University, recording 17 goals and 20 assists in 66 appearances for the Panthers.
- First player in Big South Conference history to earn a different major award in four consecutive seasons — Freshman of the Year (2022), Offensive Player of the Year (2023), Defensive Player of the Year (2024), and Midfielder of the Year (2025).
- International player for El Salvador, most recently called into the senior national team in March 2026 after being selected in the second round of the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by Real Salt Lake.
Mathis Guffroy
- Hometown: Saint Germain En Laye, France
- French attacking midfielder who recorded 47 goals and 27 assists across four seasons at Texas Wesleyan University
- 2024 Conference Player of the Year at Texas Wesleyan
- Added nine goal contributions and earned All-Summit League Second Team honors at the University of St. Thomas in 2025
Luis Alvarez
- Midfielder re-joined the Charlotte Independence on loan from Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 2026 season.
- Made 57 league appearances over three seasons with Charlotte before his permanent transfer to Tampa Bay in June 2025.
- Scored two goals in 18 appearances for the Rowdies during the 2025 campaign.
- Ranks top 10 all-time in club history in goals scored.
- Earned six USL League One Team of the Week honors with the Jacks in 2025, despite featuring in only nine league matches.
Viggo Ortiz
- Hometown: Dallas, Texas
- Joined the club on transfer from Charleston Battery in January 2025
- Became the second-youngest goal scorer in Charleston’s history at 17 years, 4 months, and 18 days old
- Made multiple appearances in Mexico’s youth national system, including competing and scoring in the CONCACAF U-17 Championship
Christopher Jaime
- Hometown: San Diego, California
- Second season with the Independence
- Played for LAFC Academy team prior to joining the Jacks
- Made 31 appearances for Las Vegas Lights
- 2025 USL Week 15 Team of the Week
Jon Bakero
- Hometown: Stiges, Spain
- Second season with the Independence
- Ranked among league leaders in assists in 2025 (9)
- Over 200 appearances in his professional career
- Previous clubs: Toronto FC, Chicago Fire, Phoenix Rising, Pontevedra CF, Slavia Sofia, Lleida Esportiu, Memphis 901
