The strongest central midfield group in Major League Soccer just got deeper.
On January 8, the Seattle Sounders welcomed Serbian international Nikola Petković to the club on loan for the 2026 MLS season from Charlotte FC. The midfielder joins a central midfield that includes 2025 MLS Best XI player Cristan Roldan, 2025 MLS All-Star and Mexico international Obed Vargas, league stalwart and former U.S. U-23 standout Hassani Dotson, and one of the most exciting prospects in the club’s pipeline in Snyder Brunell.
“We've had our eye on him, [he] played with the [Serbia] national team a couple years ago, still quite young. And so it's an opportunity for both Charlotte and Seattle to kind of work on a scenario where maybe he gets a little more playing time and continues his development with us,” said General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel.
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After a breakout 2023 season on MLS NEXT Pro’s Crown Legacy FC with 10 starts, three goals and four assists in 12 appearances, the midfielder earned the opportunity to compete with Charlotte FC as a rostered First Team player.
His minutes were limited across the last two seasons at the next level, making only eight starts in 24 appearances across all competitions, with two goals and an assist. But, the Sounders’ staff saw significant potential in the young player, one that could pay dividends throughout their 2026 season.
“He is a deeper-lying central midfielder by nature, and he is a straightforward, get-it-done type guy, as we would say,” said Waibel. “He connects the game really well. He likes to play in between the lines. He's talented enough to break lines, pass through lines, and so connecting the game and moving the ball forward from back to front is really where he's going to fit in our team.”
His contributions on the pitch extend to his work rate on and off the ball, complementing the group of Roldan, Vargas, Dotson, and Brunell.
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Petković has shown plenty of promise across his time in Serbia and the United States. The Sounders are optimistic that with a different environment and the help of the club’s coaching staff, they “can continue to develop another young player in [their] system and structure,” according to Waibel.
Given the different playing style between Charlotte and Seattle, it may take time for Petković to adjust and acclimate. But the club is hopeful that, after embedding in the group, the staff and his teammates can help unlock his potential.
“My expectation is that he comes in and works hard and integrates himself into the group over the next several weeks in preseason,” said Waibel. “And really, it's his job to then challenge the coaches with the quality of his play, to command and expect time.”
Waibel summed it up perfectly.
“We're notorious in Seattle. We don't promise players time, and it's all going to be earned with Coach Schmetzer anyway, so we'll certainly give him the opportunity and set up a structure for him to succeed here, and then we'll wait and kind of watch his quality with the group.”
