Kekuta Manneh

Kekuta Manneh (born 30 December 1994) is a Gambian professional footballer who plays as a winger. He spent most of his career in Major League Soccer for several teams, including Vancouver Whitecaps FC and FC Cincinnati.

Club career Youth and amateur Manneh began his career at the several youth academies, including Gilcock Academy, in Gambia before moving to the GFA League First Division, the nation's top league. For Lonestar SC, Manneh scored 21 goals in 16 matches. In October 2011, Manneh was observed by a scout from Arsenal in a match against the FC Dallas Development Academy. Following his successful season with Lonestar Soccer Club, Manneh signed for the Austin Aztex of the Premier Development League and scored 10 goals in 12 regular season matches, including a 4-goal performance against the Texas Dutch Lions on matchday 5.

Professional

Before coming to the United States in 2010, Manneh played for Steve Biko Football Club of the GFA League First Division, the highest level of football in the Gambia. Manneh helped the club finish second in the league in 2009 by scoring 17 goals in 12 matches. Despite successful trials with top clubs in the Gambia, Manneh decided to move to the United States and join the Texas-based academies. Manneh had also trained with the Colorado Rapids and clubs in England and Germany. A week later, Manneh was selected fourth overall by Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Vancouver made a trade with Toronto FC involving swapping picks and allocation money to get an earlier selection in order to draft Manneh. On 3 March 2013 Manneh made his league debut for the Whitecaps, starting the match and playing 45 minutes of a 1–0 opening-day victory over Toronto FC.

Manneh scored his first professional goal on 27 April 2013, in a 2–2 draw with FC Dallas. After coming on as a 54th-minute substitute, he scored a 72nd-minute goal. Three minutes later, Manneh made a surging run past three defenders down the flank to set up Camilo's equalizer in the 75th minute. Manneh's goal and assist earned him man of the match honours. Manneh scored his first professional, and the Whitecaps' first MLS, hat-trick on 9 October 2013, in a 4–1 win over Seattle Sounders FC. At 18 years and 283 days, Manneh became the youngest player to have scored an MLS hat trick. On the following matchday, Manneh scored a curler from outside the penalty box against the Colorado Rapids.

Following a string of impressive performances in October 2013, it was reported that English Premier League powerhouses Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool were in the hunt to sign the 18-year-old from Vancouver, with the latter apparently linked with a move for the player the previous summer.

In a deal announced 30 March 2017, Manneh was traded to Columbus Crew SC for Tony Tchani. The Whitecaps also received $300,000 in various allocation funds and a conditional first round draft pick. Manneh's contract expired at the end of the season, and although he was offered a new contract by Crew SC, he chose to head overseas and go on trial with Union Berlin.

On 26 December 2017, Manneh joined Mexican side Pachuca. However, the player made only one league appearance, playing only eight minutes, during his short tenure at the club.

Manneh transferred to Swiss Super League club FC St. Gallen in late June 2018.

On 13 February 2019, Manneh returned to the United States, joining FC Cincinnati ahead of their inaugural season in MLS. Cincinnati acquired his MLS rights from Columbus in exchange for $250,000 in Targeted Allocation Money and $50,000 in General Allocation Money. He scored his first goal for Cincinnati on March 24, 2019, against the New England Revolution.

On 17 August 2020, Manneh was traded to New England Revolution for an international roster slot. He scored his first goal for New England on October 14, 2020.

Manneh returned to the city of Austin on 22 January 2021, signing as a free agent with Austin FC ahead of their inaugural MLS season. Following the 2021 season, Manneh's contract option was declined by Austin.

On 7 February 2022, it was announced that Manneh had signed with USL Championship club San Antonio FC ahead of their upcoming 2022 season.

On 3 April 2023, Manneh signed with Canadian Premier League side Pacific FC for their 2023 season. He departed after one season.

International career Because of Manneh's performances with Steve Biko FC, he was called up for the Gambia's U20 national squad for the 2011 African Youth Championship in Tripoli, Libya in March of that year. In March 2014, Manneh was one of seven foreign-based players contacted by new Gambia Under-20 coach Tapha Manneh to be part of the squad for 2015 African U-20 Championship qualification, including the match against Liberia on 6 April. However, he was unable to accept the call up because of injury. Manneh has stated he wants to play for the United States after he receives his U.S. citizenship in September 2016. He was called up into the United States squad for the January 2017 camp as well as for a friendly against Paraguay in March 2018, but has not yet made an appearance for the team.

Personal life Manneh earned his U.S. citizenship in 2016. While playing for the Canada-based Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Manneh lived in the U.S. exclave of Point Roberts, Washington in order to fulfill his residency requirements for U.S. citizenship.

Manneh is Muslim and has observed the Islamic month of Ramadan to some extent.

Career statistics

Honors PDL Southern Conference All-Conference Team: 2012 Canadian Championship: 2015