Kekuta Manneh

HOW ACQUIRED: Rights acquired by Cincinnati and signed on a free transfer on Feb. 13, 2019.

PRONUNCIATION: keh-KOO-tuh MAH-NAY

Once one of the most dynamic young players in MLS, Manneh is a quick and agile winger with a nose for goal. Had four goals and three assists with 15 starts in 27 appearances in his first year in MLS after stints in Mexico and Switzerland. His season was cut short by shoulder surgery in September that was expected to sideline him for six months.

INTERNATIONAL: Manneh was called up to the Gambian U-20 national team in 2011 and 2014, but declined the latter selection due to injury. In 2017, after earning his US citizenship, he was called into US national team camp by Bruce Arena and is expected to play a part with the US going forward once FIFA paperwork clears.

OUTSIDE MLS: Manneh began his professional career in his native country of The Gambia in 2009 for Steve Biko FC, scoring 17 goals in 12 matches. After migrating to the United States in 2010, Manneh played for Austin Aztex in the USL PDL for the 2012 season. Won the 2015 Amway Canadian Championship with Vancouver, and also appeared in the 2015-16 CONCACAF Champions League for the Whitecaps.

NOTES: Revealed in an interview that he maintains a residence in Washington state to facilitate eventual US citizenship, with the goal of playing for the US national team once he's qualified. Is the youngest player to date (18 years, 283 days) to score a hat trick in MLS.