Five months ago, Zavier Gozo was coming to terms with being left off Mauricio Pochettino's 26-man World Cup roster, watching the tournament from his mother's home in Utah after a career spent entirely with his boyhood club, Real Salt Lake. Now the young forward finds himself adjusting to life in south London with Crystal Palace, having earned both Premier League minutes and his first senior cap for the United States men's national team.
Speaking from a hotel lobby in downtown Minneapolis ahead of a national team camp, Gozo reflected on the whirlwind transition. "It's a big change to go from Utah to London," he said, acknowledging the scale of the shift in characteristically understated fashion.
One familiar presence has eased the move: fellow American Chris Richards, who has become a key figure at Palace since arriving in 2022 and has reportedly become close with Gozo, even bonding with Richards' young daughter. But Gozo insists Richards wasn't the primary draw to Selhurst Park. He pointed instead to Palace's recent trophy haul—the FA Cup in 2025, along with the Conference League and Community Shield in 2026—as evidence of a club on the rise.
"I think I knew more [about them] than maybe the average [club]," Gozo explained, citing the club's history of developing wingers and forwards, name-checking Wilfried Zaha as an example of the pathway Palace has built for attacking talent. He added that watching Richards' career unfold at the club only deepened his familiarity with Palace's project. The team's continued presence in the Europa League was another factor, offering additional stages on which to make his mark.
During his final stretch in MLS, Gozo produced standout moments that hinted at his ceiling—among them a dribbling sequence and curling finish against Atlanta, and a stunning first-time volley weeks later against Kansas City. Those flashes have followed him across the Atlantic, even as he now competes for a roster spot in one of the world's most demanding leagues rather than facing an incremental step up.
"I think the coaching staff believes in me and is bought into developing me and the talent that I have," Gozo said. "I think it's a perfect environment for me to learn, but also be thrown into the fire a little bit." He acknowledged the mental challenge of the transition, noting that players who were stars at previous clubs can lose confidence when the level rises sharply. "You just kind of have to figure out how you can become effective again, and yeah, obviously it can be hard at times, but also it's what you want. You have to be uncomfortable to get to the highest levels."
Gozo also spoke about the shift in identity that comes with being an expensive import rather than a homegrown favorite. "It's very different. Obviously, you don't feel the connection with the fans as much," he said, adding that he now feels a responsibility to prove himself to supporters rather than being carried by their built-in goodwill, as was the case at Real Salt Lake.
So far, Gozo has made three substitute appearances for Palace across all competitions. On the international stage, he was part of a group of a dozen newcomers capped in the most recent window, alongside fellow wingers Cavan Sullivan and Mathis Albert, and featured in one of four friendlies, playing nearly half an hour against Peru. He is one of five players from the 2025 U-20 World Cup squad to earn a senior debut in that window.
Reflecting on the broader shift within the national team under Pochettino, Gozo said the atmosphere has noticeably changed. "I feel like the vibe at the national team has changed, especially since Pochettino has come here," he said. "It's just an elevated energy, almost. It feels good to walk in and to be a part of this group."
Based on reporting from The Guardian.