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Kekuta Manneh is officially leaving Major League Soccer. The former Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew winger has signed with Club Pachuca of Liga MX for the 2018 Clausura season.
¡Welcome @kekuta16!
— Club Pachuca (@Tuzos) December 26, 2017
El delantero Kekuta Manneh es nuestro refuerzo de cara al Clausura 2018 proveniente de la MLS.#TeJuroQueTeAmo pic.twitter.com/ObVwGvo96K
The 22-year-old was once thought of as one of the brightest young stars in MLS before hitting a terrible run of back luck with injuries and spotty form. Early in 2017, he became a U.S. citizen. He will reportedly be deemed eligible to play with the USMNT when he turns 23 in late December.
I am very excited to join @Tuzos to start a new chapter in my professional career and help Pachuca win championships. I can’t wait to get started. Vamos @Tuzos #clubpachuca #tuzos
— Kekuta Manneh (@kekuta16) December 27, 2017
A move to Mexico would seem to suit his pacey, counter-attacking style more than the compact and tight MLS did. Can he recapture the form that made scouts and pundits drool over his potential? He’s still very young and if he can regain it, he should find himself on the USMNT radar in the coming months and years.
Good luck to Kekuta in Mexico. We’ll certainly be watching with anticipation.