Liel Abada: a Goal-Hungry Winger

March 7, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Charlotte FC News Release

Charlotte FC’s new era, marked by the hiring of Dean Smith, brings with it the pursuit of fresh Designated Players. As preparations started for the departure of Karol Świderski and Kamil Jóžwiak, the search for new talent led to the acquisition of the electric Israeli winger, Liel Abada.

The club officially announced the signing of the 22-year-old winger on Thursday, who joins as a Young Designated Player amidst stiff competition from European clubs and other MLS teams eager to secure his signature.

Thomas Schaling, the Director of Scouting for CLTFC, shed light on Abada’s decision to choose the Queen City and what fans can anticipate from their new DP.

“I think he sees that we’re a very ambitious project,” said Schaling. “We didn’t settle for the performances last year. We want to take a huge step forward with Dean [Smith].

“I think he knows he can become a really important player here. The Young DP tag is not something taken lightly.”

So, what makes Abada such a coveted prospect worldwide?

Offensive Weapon

Abada boasts a remarkable record as a consistent goal-scorer, setting him apart from many players of his age. Abada averaged 13.67 goals and 8 assists in all competitions in the previous three seasons. Abada brings a profile at the winger position that is unique from anything the team has seen until this point.

“He’s a very energetic and direct player who always wants to go to goal,” described Scaling. “How he directs his running off the ball and how he angles himself to dribble is always towards goal.

“He also likes to take a shot, go around defenders, and cut back, which are all good weapons. He’s very aggressive and eager to score.”

Abada can be described more as an inside forward: a winger who finds themselves in pockets of space near and around goal to pounce on scoring opportunities. While still being more than capable of playmaking, where he truly excels is in his off-ball movement. Opposing teams must game plan around him, as all it takes is one defensive lapse for Abada to punish them.

When on the ball, Abada is more selective in choosing the moments to take players on one-on-one. He leverages his good first touch and acceleration to bypass isolated defenders to create scoring opportunities for his team. His versatility extends to using his left foot for both crossing and shooting, further amplifying his threat.

Ideal Fit Under Dean Smith

His defensive contribution is also…