In a historic moment for the club, San Diego FC selected UC Santa Barbara defensive midfielder Manu Duah with the first overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft on Friday. The expansion side, preparing for their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, landed the highly-rated Ghanaian prospect to bolster their midfield.
Duah, who spent one stellar season with the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos, impressed with his defensive prowess, helping the team record six clean sheets in his 14 appearances. While he only notched one assist, the 21-year-old’s ability to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game caught the eye of San Diego’s scouting department.
Varas Hails “Tremendous Potential”
Speaking to reporters in a virtual press conference after the selection, San Diego head coach Mikey Varas was effusive in his praise for Duah:
“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. He can be a player who dominates MLS in a few years.”
– Mikey Varas, San Diego FC Head Coach
Varas clearly believes Duah has the talent to become a midfield general in MLS, anchoring San Diego’s spine for years to come. The Ghanaian will have big shoes to fill as the expansion club’s first-ever draft pick, but his college pedigree suggests he is up for the challenge.
Busy Day of Drafting
The 2025 MLS SuperDraft, which included the full three rounds of 90 picks held in one afternoon, saw several other notable selections:
- 2nd overall – San Jose Earthquakes: Max Floriani (D), Saint Louis
- 3rd overall – Chicago Fire: Dean Boltz (F), Wisconsin
- 4th overall – Colorado Rapids: Alex Harris (F), Cornell (via trade with Sporting KC)
- 5th overall – San Jose Earthquakes: Reid Roberts (D), San Francisco (via trade with New England)
The flurry of trades near the top of the draft board showed the high value teams placed on landing their preferred college prospects in this class. Colorado and San Jose both pulled the trigger on Draft Day deals, underlining the importance of this annual talent injection for MLS.
What’s Next for Duah and San Diego?
As the first pick in San Diego FC’s history, Manu Duah will face immense pressure to live up to expectations in Southern California. The expansion club is assembling a roster they hope can compete right away in the tough Western Conference.
Duah will likely slot into a starting role in defensive midfield from day one, tasked with providing a shield for the back four and launching attacks with his precise passing. If he can translate his collegiate form to the professional ranks, San Diego may have just drafted a franchise cornerstone.
Fans will get their first look at Duah during the MLS preseason in January, with San Diego’s inaugural match scheduled for March 2025. The Ghanaian midfielder has the talent and potential to grow into one of the premier players in his position – now it’s up to him and coach Varas to unlock that ability and justify his selection at the top of the SuperDraft.
