FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have acquired forward/midfielder Kekuta Manneh (pronounced keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY) from FC Cincinnati in exchange for a 2020 international roster slot, which will return to New England on Jan. 1, 2021.
Manneh joins the Revolution with seven seasons of MLS experience with FC Cincinnati (2019-20), Columbus Crew SC (2017), and Vancouver Whitecaps FC (2013-17), in addition to professional stints in Mexico, Switzerland, and his native The Gambia. The 25-year-old winger has made 149 regular season appearances in MLS, with 87 starts, and has scored 30 goals with 18 assists. With Cincinnati in 2020, Manneh has made two appearances, with one start, after appearing in 27 games for the then-expansion side last season.
“Kekuta is a player I’ve known for a number of years who can play a number of attacking positions, possesses good speed and quickness, and also has a solid goal scoring record in our league,” said Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena. “I’m hopeful he can adjust quickly to our club and help strengthen our roster as we prepare for the last 18 games of the regular season.”
Manneh launched his professional career in The Gambia in 2009 with Steve Biko FC, scoring 17 goals in 12 matches. After migrating to the United States in 2010, he began his MLS journey with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in 2013. Over the next four-plus seasons before his departure from Vancouver in 2017, Manneh totaled 101 games played, 62 starts, 18 goals scored, and 12 assists in league play, with two postseason starts. He also played in three Concacaf Champions League games, scoring one goal, and appeared in 13 Canadian Championship contests with the Whitecaps.
In 2017, Manneh was traded to Columbus Crew SC, where he added four goals and three assists in 19 games played. He made five substitute appearances for Crew SC en route to the Eastern Conference Championship. Following the season, Manneh transferred to top-flight Mexican side CF Pachuca, where he made six appearances across all competitions in 2018. In 2019, he joined Swiss Super League side FC St. Gallen 1879, recording one assist in nine games.
On the international stage, Manneh was called up to the Gambian Under-20 National Team in 2011 and 2014. After earning his United States citizenship in 2016, he was called into U.S. Men’s National Team’s January camp in 2017 by Bruce Arena. He was also called up for a friendly against Paraguay in March 2018, but has yet to make an appearance for the team.
The New England Revolution will resume the club’s 25th MLS season on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET against the Philadelphia Union at Gillette Stadium. The match will air locally on NBC Sports Boston, and is also available on the radio at 98.5 The Sports Hub, with 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA providing Portuguese commentary.
TRANSACTION: New England Revolution acquire forward/midfielder Kekuta Manneh from FC Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2020 in exchange for a 2020 international roster slot, which will return to New England on Jan. 1, 2021.
#31 Kekuta Manneh
PRONUNCIATION: keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY
Position: Forward/Midfielder
Height: 5-9
Weight: 140
Hometown: Madiba Kunda, Gambia
Date of Birth: 12/30/1994 (Bakau, Gambia)
Nationality: Gambia/United States
Previous Club: FC Cincinnati
Acquired: Trade with FC Cincinnati on Aug. 17, 2020
Twitter: @Kekuta16
