Seattle Sounders: Loan Move Key to Victor Mansaray’s Development
By Paul Taylor
Hoping to build on Victor Mansaray’s potential, the Seattle Sounders have loaned him to FC Cincinnati for the 2017 USL campaign.
Since joining the Seattle Sounders, Victor Mansaray’s most notable achievement is becoming the youngest player in franchise history to appear in a match. He made his MLS debut against FC Dallas during the 2015 campaign, at the ripe old age of 18 years and 34 days.
As you’d expect, Mansaray wants to achieve considerably more with Seattle. As such, the decision to loan him to FC Cincinnati is an important step in his growth.
The move was reported by SportpressNW, who confirmed the 19-year old will spend the entire 2017 USL campaign with Cincinnati. He will join them, after returning home from camp with the United States U-20 team.
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Mansaray has been with the Sounders since entering their academy, halfway through the 2012-13 season. He made an immediate impact by scoring 11 times in 20 appearances for the U-16’s, and followed this up the next season with a team-leading 18 goals in 24 games.
Unsurprisingly, this led to the Sierra Leone native being signed by the first team, as the fourth Seattle Homegrown player. To date he has made three MLS appearances, and 35 — including five goals and two assists — for their USL affiliate, Seattle Sounders FC 2.
After being born and raised in Sierra Leone, Mansaray spent time in Jamaica, before moving to the United States. Faced with the opportunity to represent all three countries, he chose the United States and has scored two goals in eight games for the U-20’s. (He also made eight appearances for the U-18’s side.)
The Sounders have high hopes for the forward. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the opportunity with FC Cincinnati.
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Have you had the chance to watch Mansaray play yet? What kind of success are you predicting for the youngster? Share your thoughts in the comments section.