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San Diego FC defender Manu Duah continues to establish himself as one of Major League Soccer’ top young players.
The 21-year-old was ranked No. 9 in the 2026 MLS 22 Under 22 rankings announced Tuesday, moving up six places after finishing No. 15 on the list during his rookie season in 2025.
The annual ranking recognizes the league’s top players age 21 and younger, with voting conducted by a panel that includes MLS coaches, general managers, sporting directors, media members and MLS on Apple TV talent.
For Duah, the jump into the top 10 comes after taking on an even larger role for San Diego FC in his second professional season.
Duah Becomes a Regular in San Diego's Back Line
Duah has started all 29 of his MLS appearances in 2026 and recorded three assists, becoming a regular piece of Mikey Varas’ defense.
He also reached another milestone outside of league play.
Duah scored the first professional goal of his career during San Diego’s 4-1 victory over Pumas UNAM in the opening leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup first-round matchup. The win helped SDFC eventually advance 4-2 on aggregate.
His performances throughout the season were enough to move him from 15th in last year's 22 Under 22 rankings to ninth in 2026.
Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan, 17, took the No. 1 spot, becoming the youngest player to finish first in the history of the ranking.
Duah finished behind San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Niko Tsakiris at No. 8 and just ahead of New England Revolution midfielder Brooklyn Raines at No. 10.
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From No. 1 Draft Pick to SDFC Starter
Duah's development has moved quickly since San Diego selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 MLS SuperDraft out of UC Santa Barbara.
The Accra, Ghana native entered MLS as a Generation adidas signing and made his professional debut on June 25, 2025, coming on late in San Diego’s 5-3 road victory over Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
By the end of his rookie season, Duah had become much more than a developmental prospect.
He made 22 appearances and 20 starts across all competitions in 2025, including three Leagues Cup appearances. Duah also started five matches during SDFC's postseason run to the Western Conference Final in the club's inaugural season.
That performance earned him the No. 15 spot on last year's 22 Under 22 list. He was joined by SDFC defender Luca Bombino, giving San Diego two representatives in the ranking during its first MLS season.
A year later, Duah is SDFC's lone representative and has climbed into the top 10.
One of MLS' Top Young Defenders
The 2026 rankings feature players from 16 MLS clubs, with an average age of roughly 20.
Philadelphia Union and Red Bull New York led the league with three selections each, while New England Revolution and Nashville SC each had two.
Duah's inclusion also puts him among a group of young MLS players beginning to make an impact internationally. He has received a senior Ghana national team call-up, while several other players in this year's class have already appeared at the senior international level.
To qualify for the 2026 rankings, players had to be 21 or younger before MLS Decision Day on Nov. 7.
For San Diego, Duah's rise is another encouraging sign from a player who entered the organization as the first overall pick less than two years ago. He went from making his professional debut midway through SDFC's inaugural season to starting every one of his MLS appearances in 2026.
Now, MLS voters consider him one of the league's 10 best young players — and his climb from No. 15 to No. 9 suggests his trajectory is still pointing upward.
