MLS champions Atlanta United selected Ghanaian midfield maestro Anderson Asiedu during the MLS SuperDraft in Chicago on Friday.
The Dormaa-Ahenkor native, who played at Monmouth and University California Los Angeles, was selected as the 24th pick in the first round.
Asiedu was the MVP of the MLS Combine in Orlando.
In addition to his tenacity on the field, he wowed Atlanta United manager Frank de Boer in his interview, helping him the No. 1 pick on their board.
De Boer said he knows that every coach says that, but in this case it’s true.
''I’m so excited because not just a regular team picked me,'' Asiedu said. ''The best team in the country picked me. I’m so excited for the moment.''
He prefers to play as part of a two-man defensive midfield, but is comfortable manning the middle by himself.
''I love to win balls,'' he said. ''When we have the ball we have everything. When we don’t have the ball we don’t have everything. I have all the criteria as a player, but the best I do is to win the ball.''