Ghana's Manu Duah drafted number 1 pick in 2025 MLS draft

In a historic moment for Ghanaian football, Kojo Manu Duah was selected as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 MLS Draft by San Diego FC. The talented junior from the University of California, Santa Barbara, has now etched his name into the annals of Major League Soccer as one of the brightest prospects to emerge in recent years.

Kojo Manu’s rise to the top has been nothing short of remarkable. Born and raised in Kumasi, he began his football journey at New Life Football Academy, a Division 2 club in Accra renowned for producing world-class talent, many of whom are now thriving in European leagues. His exceptional talent saw him secure a move to the Dunn School in California, where he honed his skills further during high school before joining UC Santa Barbara.

At Santa Barbara, Manu became a standout player, demonstrating an extraordinary ability to dominate games with his pace, vision, and goal-scoring prowess. His performances earned him the attention of scouts and cemented his status as the top choice in this year’s draft.

While Manu’s selection grabbed headlines, other teams also made significant moves to strengthen their squads.

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.

For Manu Duah, the move to San Diego FC is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. The club’s investment in the Ghanaian prodigy underscores their ambition to build a competitive team around his immense talent.

Speaking at a virtual press conference after the draft, coach of San Diego FC Mikey Varas said: "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”, he added.

Manu’s success also highlights the critical role played by New Life Football Academy in nurturing young players. The Accra-based academy has become a cornerstone of Ghana’s football development, consistently producing talents who shine on the global stage.

With his exceptional abilities and a hunger to succeed, Kojo Manu is poised to become a key player in the MLS and an inspiration to aspiring footballers in Ghana and beyond. The stage is set for the young star to take American soccer by storm.