December 20, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Diego FC News Release
SAN DIEGO – San Diego FC (SDFC) announced today the Club made a total of five selections in the MLS SuperDraft 2025 including Manu Duah from UC Santa Barbara with the first overall pick. The Club also selected defender Ian Pilcher from University of North Carolina Charlotte with the 24th overall pick (24th pick, first round), defender Harrison Bertos from the University of Washington with the 31st overall pick (first pick, second round), San Diego native Samy Kanaan from University of San Diego with the 56th overall pick (26th pick, second round) and forward Donovan Sessoms from Sacramento State University with the 61th overall pick (first pick, third round).
SDFC also acquired $175,000 in 2025 General Allocation Money (GAM) during the MLS SuperDraft 2025 from trades with Charlotte FC (SDFC received the 17th overall pick and $100K in 2025 GAM from Charlotte FC in exchange for the 9th overall pick) and with New York City FC (SDFC received the 24th overall pick and $75K in 2025 GAM from NYCFC in exchange for the 17th overall pick).
Midfielder Manu Duah
A native of Ghana, Manu Duah started all 14 games he played in for the Gauchos as the side went 8-3-3 during those matches. He produced his first collegiate assist on August 29 against the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Duah previously starred in MLS NEXT for Santa Barbara Soccer Club, helping them reach the MLS NEXT Cup Playoffs in the U19 age group. Duah joins fellow Gauchos Christian Ramírez (Columbus Crew), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United FC), and Emmanuel Boateng (New England Revolution) in MLS.
Manu Duah
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-4
Weight: 180 lbs.
Date of Birth: June 5, 2005
Place of Birth: Kumasi, Ghana
College: UC Santa Barbara
Defender Ian Pilcher
In 2024, defender Ian Pilcher earned first-team All-AAC honors while helping lead the 49ers to their second straight American Athletic Conference Championship. The Charlotte, North Carolina native started 17 games this season, recording one goal and captaining a back line that finished first in the nation in shutout percentage (.579) and 13th in scoring defense (.832). Pilcher was a two-time AAC Defensive Player of the Week and one-time AAC Honorable Mention of the Week.
Ian Pilcher
Position: Defender
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170 lbs.
Date of Birth: March 21, 2003
Place of Birth: Charlotte, N.C.
College: University of North Carolina Charlotte
Defender Harrison Bertos
The Bedford, Mass. sophomore…
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