Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Appiah joined American top-flight side Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday in a career-boosting move.
The 22-year-old signed the deal on Tuesday afternoon well in time for Wednesday’s match at the Chicago Fire.
Appiah was added to the Sporting Kansas City roster to boost their midfield ahead of the important match today.
“Emmanuel is a player who we scouted in college and watched closely at the Combine," Sporting KC Manager Peter Vermes said.
"He is a young midfielder who possesses a lot of qualities that our staff likes and we look forward to integrating him into our system.”
The move is a massive boost for Appiah's career having spent last season on loan at USL club Charlotte Independence from Colorado Rapids.
Appiah joined the Colorado Rapids in January as the No. 15 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft but the lack of playing time forced his loan to Independence.
He managed to play just two matches for Independence before parting ways with Colorado on June 30
Born in Ghana and raised in Westerville, Ohio, Appiah spent five years at the University of Cincinnati, where he recorded seven goals and 13 assists in 65 college appearances. He earned Second Team All-American Athletic Conference and Second Team All-Ohio accolades as a senior in 2015, finishing with six goals and five assists.
While at Cincinnati, Appiah made 10 appearances for GPS Portland Phoenix of the USL Premier Development League in 2013.
Emmanuel Appiah
Pronunciation: AH-pee-ah
Position: Midfielder
Number: 23
Born: 9/26/1993
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160 lbs.
College: University of Cincinnati
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio
Birthplace: Sampa, Ghana
Citizenship: Ghana
Twitter: @E_Swell
Instagram: @eappiah_3