Charlotte FC adds Croatian goalkeeper, additional international roster slot

Charlotte FC has added Croatian goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina on a permanent transfer from Bulgarian club Ludogorets Razgrad. Kahlina is the 18th player on the Major League Soccer expansion club’s inaugural roster.

Kahlina, 29, has signed a contract with Charlotte through 2024 with an option for 2025, with the move pending receipt of a P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate for league eligibility.

He is also Charlotte FC’s second goalkeeper, joining 26-year-old Pablo Sisniega, who spent the last three seasons with LAFC before his move to Charlotte via a trade. Kahlina has experience in Bulgaria’s top men’s professional league with Ludogorets, making 36 total appearances and earning 13 clean sheets for the club over the last year-and-a-half.

He also featured in Champions League qualifying round matches and the UEFA Europa League group stage. Charlotte FC sporting director Zoran Krneta highlighted Kahlina’s well-rounded play as a goalkeeper that will fit into the team’s game model, led by Spanish head coach Miguel Ángel Ramírez.

“He makes good decisions when the ball is at his feet and compliments that with good aerial play and shot stopping,” Krneta said in a statement. “He comes to us with experience in European competition and is excited for the challenge of playing in Major League Soccer.”

As a native of Zagreb, Croatia, Kahlina will occupy an international roster slot.

Charlotte FC has also added an international roster slot via with a trade D.C. United for $250,000 in general allocation money, according to a source with knowledge of the transaction.

Charlotte FC Player Profile

• Name: Kristijan Kahlina
• Position: Goalkeeper
• Height: 6-foot-2
• Date of Birth: July 24, 1992
• Age: 29
• Birthplace: Zagreb, Croatia
• Last Club: Ludogorets Razgrad
• How he arrived at Charlotte: Permanent transfer from Ludogorets Razgrad

This story was originally published December 28, 2021 at 10:00 AM.

Alexandra Andrejev

The Charlotte Observer

NASCAR and Charlotte FC beat reporter Alex Andrejev joined The Observer in January 2020 following an internship at The Washington Post. She is a two-time APSE award winner for her NASCAR beat coverage and National Motorsports Press Association award winner. She is the host of McClatchy’s podcast “Payback” about women’s soccer. Support my work with a digital subscription