Pep Biel powers Charlotte FC past D.C. United after Patrick Agyemang departure
The absence has lingered since June. Some saw it coming. But on Wednesday, it became official.
There was a noticeable absence on the pitch during Charlotte FC’s match against D.C. United. The Crown announced on Tuesday that striker Patrick Agyemang had completed his transfer to Derby County FC. He signed a four-year contract worth $8 million with the organization, according to The Athletic. Before his departure, Agyemang’s six goals made him the second-highest goal scorer this season.
But even without the top striker, Charlotte FC defeated D.C. United, 2-1, at Bank of America Stadium. It’s the first time the program has recorded back-to-back home wins since April.
After being selected No. 12 in the 2023 MLS Draft, Agyemang made an immediate impact. He scored 10 goals and three assists in 11 matches with Crown Legacy FC before moving to the organization’s first team. He led the scoring effort in 2024, notching 10 goals and five assists.
Since the club’s debut in 2022, he has become its second-highest goal scorer. He was called up to the U.S. men’s national team in January, where he recorded five goals in 10 appearances. Along with the national team, Agyemang played 16 games with Charlotte this season, tallying six goals and one assist. During his time with The Crown, he scored 22 goals over 72 matches. Agyemang hasn’t played a regular-season match since May 31.
“We wish him all the best,” midfielder Ashley Westwood said. “He deserves this opportunity, and we as a group hope he goes and thrives in England, and hope he does really well. We’ll be certainly be watching it.”
Even though on Wednesday the Crown faced a defense that ranks in the top two for most goals conceded (43) in the MLS, the organization showed what an Agyemang-less attack could be. The program has put its faith in a new leader this season, and his name is Pep Biel.
The midfielder came to the Queen City in August 2024 on loan from Olympiacos FC. He stayed with CLTFC until the end of the season before being reacquired through 2025. He leads the team in scoring with nine goals. Charlotte FC has the opportunity to purchase Biel at the end of the season if he meets performance metrics.
“It’s so fun to watch him play,” center-back Tim Ream said. “Just the way he sees and reads the game, and the touches, the combination play, just the smoothness of which he plays is great because we know, OK, we just need to find him and get him the ball, and he’s going to make things happen.”
And on Wednesday, he made things happen. Biel powered Charlotte past D.C. with a brace, scoring in the 45th and 49th minutes.
At the end of the first half, Biel recovered a loose ball after a broken cross. He left-footed the shot from the left of the 6-yard box high and buried the ball into the mesh.
Then, he did it again four minutes into the second half.
After a setup from defender Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Biel found space in the center of the box, and netted it. 2-0. Ream approached Biel and told him he liked his left foot. All head coach Dean Smith can think to tell him is to keep doing what he’s doing. The coach also suggested that Biel, like Popeye, keep eating his spinach, or whatever is giving him the power to play this way.
“He’s enjoying his fútbol at the moment,” Smith said. “You can see it in the way he’s playing.”
Biel has helped make a huge loss like Agyemang’s manageable. Charlotte will continue to look to him as the season continues.
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 11:34 PM with the headline "Pep Biel powers Charlotte FC past D.C. United after Patrick Agyemang departure."
