FC Cincinnati got into the Cyber Monday mood with the signing of midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma.
Ledesma is the 4th player signed for the 2019 MLS season and will occupy an international roster slot. While details of the signing were not immediately known, Jeff Carlisle of ESPN reported the deal is for two seasons with a club option for a third.
“This feels really good, this is something that I have been working towards since signing with FC Cincinnati,” Ledesma said, “Two years ago, it was my first season in the USA and from the beginning, I was thinking about MLS. To be fair, at the beginning, it felt that MLS was so far away, but now it is so close to me and I am really, really happy. I am very excited.”
In 2018, Ledesma scored 16 goals while leading the league with 16 assists on his way to the USL Most Valuable Player award. The 16 goals were his career high in a season. He was also named Player of the Month twice (June & September) and landed on the USL Team of the Week nine times.
“Manu proved to be a difference maker on a number of occasions for us last season,” FC Cincinnati Head Coach Alan Koch said. “While he had a special season at the USL level this year, I know he is driven to have greater success at the MLS level next year. We value not only talent, but his character to reinforce the special culture we have created in Cincinnati and believe that Manu provides both components for our group.”
Ledesma originally signed for FC Cincinnati in 2018. Prior to the club, he had stints with Genoa, Queens Park Rangers, U.S. Salernitana 1919, Novara Calcio, FC Crotone, Walsall, Defensa y Justicia, Middlesbrough, Rotherham United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford, Panetolikos and New York Cosmos.
-This story will be updated
@bradleysweigel for @CincySoccerTalk