Ghanaian defender Michael Tetteh has signed for American top flight side Seattle Sounders as they prepare for the start of the season.
The 22-year-old is the latest player from the Right to Dream Academy to join a top flight side in the Major League Soccer.
He left the academy run by British coach Tom Vernon under scholarship from the University of Santa Barbara (UCSB) to combine his studies and football.
His progress both on and off the field has paid off which has resulted in the contract which could
Tetteh, 22, played as an outside midfielder and a defender for the Gauchos.
Although he was bothered by injuries most of this past season, he scored a brilliant left-footed goal in the NCAA Tournament loss at Cal.
And he scored it while wearing a bandage around his head to cover a gash he suffered earlier in the game.
He came to the U.S. in 2005 as part of a program with the Tom Vernon’s Right to Dream Academy in Ghana and Dunn School in Los Olivos.
He played three years at Dunn before going to UCSB.
“He’s just got to go have a good combine,†Vom Steeg said.
“If he has a good combine, he has a chance to be first- for second-round pick.â€
Tetteh, a native of Ghana, is a speedy left back who can get forward and support the attack but is solid defensively.
He had six goals and eight assists in his three-year career at UCSB.
There could be some injury issues but the lack of depth likely pushes him to the middle or top of the first round.
The Right to Dream Academy has also secured contracts for players in England, Belgium and other parts of Europe as well as the USA.