Manu Duah didn’t expect to hear his name called first. San Diego FC had other plans.
Since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft by the then-expansion team, the Ghanaian has emerged as one of MLS’s top young defenders and placed No. 9 on this year's 22 Under 22 Rankings.
“When I was picked number one, I was super happy,” Duah said on Off The Ball. “But then that made me give myself bigger expectations, because I’m like, ‘Okay, you got picked number one. You have to prove it.’”
Duah's stateside path began at California’s Dunn School, where an international student community and a welcoming host family helped him adjust to life far from home. Then, after a standout season at UC Santa Barbara, he joined San Diego for their inaugural MLS campaign.
Now, Duah has found another supportive environment, crediting San Diego’s veterans for helping him feel at home from the start.
“They already made it like one big family, so it was like no matter who comes in, you feel welcome in the team,” the 21-year-old said.
Off the field, that comfort extends to exploring local Mexican food and spending time by the ocean, biking along the beach or walking with his headphones on.
Watch the full Off The Ball episode to learn more about Duah’s journey and life in San Diego.
