San Diego FC selects UC Santa Barbara midfielder Manu Duah with No. 1 overall pick in MLS SuperDraft

San Diego FC’s roster construction continues with the selection of UC Santa Barbra midfielder Manu Duah first overall in the MLS SuperDraft. As an expansion team that will become the league’s 30th team, San Diego received the first pick in the draft, using it to bolster its growing midfield with Generation Adidas product.

Duah will join Alex Mighten, Anibal Godoy and Jeppe Tverskov as midfielders currently under contract for Mikey Varas’ team, but with the offseason underway and more picks to come in the draft, that will continue to grow before San Diego. takes the field for the first time against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday February 23.

“Manu above all fits the profile of the club,” Varas said. “He is a very talented young player with incredible character and value. He is a mix between a ball-playing midfielder and a number six who is able to help us implement our style of play in terms of taking initiative with the ball, but he also has a tremendous growth mindset and winning mentality.

Last season, Duah started 14 matches, also earning his first collegiate assist. A native of Ghana, he joins Christian Ramirez, Michael Boxtall and Emmanuel Boateng as UCSB players currently in Major League Soccer. Also spending time in MLS Next for the Santa Barbara Soccer Club, Duah helped them reach the MLS Next Cup playoffs in the U19 age group. Taking inspiration from Sergio Busquets, Duah wants to help his teams control the pace of the match and he could get a chance to face his idol depending on how the schedule develops in cup competitions or playoffs.

It will be a step forward for the 19-year-old arriving in Major League Soccer, but that’s where San Diego’s youth-focused approach As a member of the Right to Dream Network, San Diego FC aims to help young players who have the tools to succeed reach their potential and that’s where Duah is in a great place to thrive .

Varas notes that it’s a step from college to performing in the professional ranks, but it won’t “limit anyone’s story.” San Diego’s philosophy is to look to win with and support young players and that’s exactly what will happen with Duah.

San Diego also increased its spending power by completing a trade with Charlotte FC to return the ninth pick in the draft for the 17th overall pick and $100,000 general allocation. This 17th overall pick became another trade to go down in the draft. San Diego collected another $75,000 in GAM and the 24th overall pick by trading with New York City FC.

GAM has many uses, such as buying out a player’s cap fee, including purchasing a designated player below a certain threshold to open up room for a new one. It can be used to buy back transfer fees, sign local players or be traded to other clubs. With San Diego’s needs in several areas of the field, these trades will be important in the future.

First round pick