Seattle Sounders FC have acquired midfielder Nikola Petković on loan from Charlotte FC through the 2026 season. The 22-year-old Serbian international will occupy a U22 Initiative slot for Seattle. Nikola Petković made 24 all-competition appearances for Charlotte from 2024-2025, contributing 2 goals and 1 assist. He spent 2023 with Charlotte's MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Crown Legacy FC, recording 3 goals and 4 assists in 18 games. Craig Waibel, Sounders general manager and chief soccer officer, said Nikola is a young talent who has already gained valuable experience at both the club and international level. Brian Schmetzer, the head coach, is looking forward to getting Nikola into the team's environment and seeing him with the group. Petković has featured extensively for Serbia's youth national teams and received his first senior cap in January 2023. The loan gives Seattle an opportunity to work with him and understand how he can help the team over the course of the season. Seattle's 2026 MLS season kicks off on February 22 at home against the Colorado Rapids. The team will be looking to integrate Petković into their system and see how his skills translate to the first team level. With his experience in the league and his skillset, Petković could be a valuable addition to the Sounders' squad. The loan deal includes a third-round pick in the 2027 MLS SuperDraft and up to $250,000 in 2027 General Allocation Money if certain performance-based metrics are achieved.