UC Santa Barbara midfielder Manu Duah was selected No. 1 overall by San Diego FC in Friday’s 2025 MLS SuperDraft, making him the first draft pick in the expansion club’s history.
Duah, a native of Ghana, played one season for the Gauchos and helped them notch six clean sheets in his 14 matches. He had one assist but mainly projects as a stellar defensive midfielder.
“With Manu, it was very, very obvious that this is a player with tremendous potential. A player who’s already good but can improve a lot,” coach Mikey Varas told reporters in a virtual press conference. “He can be a player who dominates MLS in a few years.”
The entire three-round, 90-pick college draft was held Friday afternoon.
The San Jose Earthquakes picked second overall after finishing last in the league standings in 2024 and drafted Saint Louis defender Max Floriani. The Chicago Fire took Wisconsin forward Dean Boltz at No. 3.
The Colorado Rapids traded up to No. 4 with Sporting Kansas City and took Cornell forward Alex Harris. The Earthquakes made a deal with the New England Revolution to move to No. 5 and used their second pick of the day on San Francisco defender Reid Roberts.
–Field Level Media
Orlando City SC signed Croatian winger Marco Pasalic as a designated player on Wednesday. Acquired from Croatia’s HNK Rijeka, the 24-year-old arrives on a three-year contract with an option for…
The San Jose Earthquakes announced a mutual parting with midfielder Carlos Gruezo on Tuesday. The 29-year-old Ecuador international signed as a designated player ahead of the 2023 MLS campaign. Gruezo…
The Philadelphia Union signed 17-year-old homegrown defender Neil Pierre to a four-year contract Tuesday. The deal includes an option for 2029 for the native of Lebanon, Pa. “Following a standout…
Quakes announce mutual parting with M Carlos Gruezo
Union sign 17-year-old homegrown D Neil Pierre
Crew transfer F Cucho Hernandez to La Liga’s Real Betis
Jury sides with U.S. Soccer in $500M antitrust trial over NASL