Derby County has officially signed U.S. Men's National Team forward Patrick Agyemang from Charlotte FC. The 24-year-old joins the English Championship side on a four-year contract that will keep him with the club until 2029. The transfer fee is reportedly around $7.7 million to $8 million, marking a club-record fee for Charlotte FC. Charlotte FC will also retain a sell-on percentage for Agyemang.
Agyemang has been playing with a hernia injury for most of the 2025 MLS season, which has been managed without surgery. However, all parties have agreed that he will undergo routine surgery to address the issue. As a result, he is likely to miss the opening games of the 2025/26 season.
Agyemang expressed his excitement about joining Derby County, stating, "It's been exciting. I've definitely been hearing great things about the club and the fans as well. I've always wanted to be part of something special and to now finally be here it's amazing". He also noted that he had heard about the potential move while with the national team for the Gold Cup and was immediately interested.
Prior to joining Derby County, Agyemang played for Charlotte FC, where he scored 22 goals in 72 matches across all competitions. In his first full season in MLS in 2024, he recorded 10 goals and three assists in 36 games across all competitions. Before that, he played for Crown Legacy FC, Charlotte FC's MLS NEXT Pro side, where he scored 10 goals and tallied three assists in just 11 matches. Agyemang was drafted 12th overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft.
Agyemang's performances with Charlotte FC and Crown Legacy earned him his first national team call-up in January 2025. He has since become a key player for the USMNT, scoring five goals in 12 appearances this year and is the only player to have featured in all 12 USMNT games in 2025. He also scored twice during the CONCACAF Gold Cup, helping the team reach the final.
Derby County finished just outside the relegation zone last season, narrowly avoiding relegation to EFL League One. Agyemang acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying, "I'm expecting it to be very tough. Definitely hard-working, and you're playing a lot of games, so I know it's going to be trying at times, but it's all about how you deal with it".
Agyemang joins several other American forwards in the English Championship, including Josh Sargent, Haji Wright, and Daryl Dike. His performance in the Championship could impact his chances of being selected for the USMNT for the 2026 World Cup.
Charlotte FC General Manager Zoran Krneta said, "Patrick's rise over the past 18 months put him on the radar of many clubs across Europe, and ultimately Derby County's offer convinced the club and player to reach an agreement". He added, "To get a deal done it needs to be in the best interest of the Club first and foremost, but also of the player and in this case, it achieves both".
Despite the transfer, Charlotte FC manager Dean Smith revealed that he had discouraged Agyemang from making the move, stating, "I don't think he should. I want him to stay here... I think the Championship is not too much different from MLS. This is major league over here. You're going to a second league in the UK".
