He's just 16, but the forward already has some big goals on his resume and after a big stint abroad, what comes next?
The moment the photos of Nimfasha Berchimas wearing the No. 7 Manchester United jersey emerged, the talk began. That's a famous shirt, you know. Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham have worn it. Legends, both of them.
Berchimas may never reach the heights of Ronaldo or Beckham. Few that have ever played this sport have. But there is a reason that the 16-year-old Charlotte FC starlet was training with Manchester United in the first place. That reason? He's damn good.
The teenager is a rising star in the U.S., having made his MLS debut for Charlotte FC in 2024. He's the first homegrown star from the club's academy, and those in Europe are already taking notice. Manchester United are just the latest megaclub to take a closer look at Berchimas, who looks destined for an inevitable move to Europe.
Before that, though, Berchimas is pushing for a real breakthrough in MLS. That process began in 2024 and, as preparations for the 2025 season heat up, the hope is that the teenager can take an even bigger leap forward. He has the tools to do just that. GOAL takes a look at why some of the world's best are eyeing the Charlotte FC player.
ImagnWhere it all began
Berchimas was born in Burundi, but, since moving to the U.S. as a child, he ultimately became Charlotte FC's first local homegrown star. Over the past few years, Berchimas has gone from Charlotte FC ball boy to the crown jewel of the Queen City club's youth pipeline.
The attacker officially began with Charlotte FC in 2020, two years before the club would first kick a ball in MLS. In November 2022, he signed a homegrown deal with the club at 14 years and 268 days old, making him the sixth-youngest player to sign an MLS deal. Proffering that contract showed just how much faith Charlotte had in the teenager and, so far, he's repaid that them at every level.
Berchimas has largely starred with the club's MLS Next Pro side, Crown Legacy FC, but, beginning in 2024, the forward got a taste of life in MLS. He made his MLS debut against NYCFC in February, making him the ninth-youngest player in MLS history. He then went on to make two more appearances for the club.
Charlotte boss Dean Smith has been determined to ease the youngster into the spotlight. However, Smith also leans on an old adage when it comes to Berchimas and his readiness for life in MLS, saying "If they're ready, it doesn't matter what age they are. If the young lads are ready, then I'll give them the opportunity. They're ready at the moment."
AdvertisementGetty/X (@tombogert)The big break
Not only did Berchimas play for the Manchester United U18s during his trial overseas; he scored for them, too. During his December trip to England, Berchimas scored in a match against Burnley, making quite an impression at the club. This wasn't Berchimas' first overseas trial, either – he'd previously trained with Bayern Munich as well, further demonstrating the caliber of club that is interested in signing him. He may be a Charlotte FC star now but, once he's free to move to Europe at 18, it seems like a bidding war may kick off.
Berchimas hasn't just shined at the club level, though. He's represented the U.S. up to the U20 level, even though he won't turn 17 until February. He was the youngest player in the U.S. squad for the 2023 U17 World Cup, where he became the youngest player to score for the U.S. in that tournament since Freddy Adu. He finished that tournament with three goals, surely making an impression on the European clubs watching on.
Biggest strengths
If there's a word to describe Berchimas' game, it's "danger." It's in the cards on every attack. When Berchimas has the ball at his feet, it's worth stopping to watch.
Part of that is due to his physical gifts, which have allowed him to beat defenders with ease. Even facing off with older opponents, Berchimas has been relatively unfazed. He has shown the quick step to beat a defender in certain situations and the change of direction to beat them in others. Once past his defender, he has no problem dribbling.
Most importantly, Berchimas has a knack for finding the goal, which is something that is almost impossible to teach. His goals for the U.S. youth teams and, more recently, Man Utd, show that he can step up in pressure situations. He clearly has the right mentality, and that'll only strengthen with more experience in those high-pressure environments.
GettyRoom for improvement
As always with these cases, it comes down to nurturing. How do you give young players the experience they need, and how do they handle adversity when it comes?
Smith is keen to take things slowly with Berchimas, and for good reason. The MLS game is fast-paced and is a major step up from the youth level Berchimas is accustomed to. He never looked out of place in his three MLS appearances, but it's still very difficult to adjust to that pace of play at a young age.
As a forward, Berchimas will also need to adjust to physicality. Berchimas has shown the speed to beat players so far, but he can't just rely on that against top-level MLS defenders. He'll need to get stronger and, and also wiser. Timing runs, making decisions, making the right pass – these are all the last lessons young players must learn. Nad just wow fast he learns them will likely be the determining factor in how many MLS minutes he gets this season.
