Charlotte FC select Clemson’s Hamady Diop No. 1 in 2023 MLS SuperDraft

CHARLOTTE — Charlotte FC announced it traded for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft on Wednesday.

Clemson University defender Hamady Diop moved to No. 1 after completing a trade with expansion side St. Louis CITY SC, the league reported.

The newcomers swapped down for the No. 20 pick in the 2023 SuperDraft, $400,000 in General Allocation Money and conditional GAM.

The Clemson University defender won the 2021 NCAA College Cup, clinching Clemson’s third national title alongside current CLTFC goalkeeper George Marks, according to MLS. Diop anchored a Tigers backline that pitched nine shutouts across his 20 starts, while also contributing three goals and three assists.

Prior to the draft, Diop was one of 11 elite collegiate underclassmen signed to a Generation adidas contract. Per MLS rules, these contracts are not charged against a team’s annual salary budget.

The defender was named to the second-team All-ACC team in both his sophomore (2021) and junior (2022) seasons. He was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2020.

The Senegalese defender attended Montverde Academy prior to Clemson, playing for the same prep school as current CLTFC forward Andre Shinyashiki.

The 20-year-old will occupy an international roster slot on the Club’s 2023 roster.

The most recent No. 1 overall pick to be traded was Jack Harrison in 2016, who was dealt from the Chicago Fire to New York City FC after being selected. The last team to acquire the number one overall pick before the player was selected was the Philadelphia Union, who selected Andre Blake in 2014.

D.C. United were the last club to pick number one overall in consecutive drafts, selecting Alecko Eskandarian in 2003 and Freddy Adu via trade in 2004.

Transaction: Charlotte FC draft Hamady Diop first overall in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas after trading up to $450K GAM to St. Louis CITY SC in exchange for the number one overall selection

Name: Hamady Diop

Position: Defender

Height: 6′0″

Weight: 186

Age: 20

Hometown: Dakar, Senegal

Last Club: Clemson University

How Acquired: Drafted first overall in 2023 MLS SuperDraft

Later in the first round, CLTFC again executed a trade, this time sending $50,000 in 2023 GAM, an additional $50,000 GAM if certain incentives are met, and Charlotte FC’s 2024 first-round selection to the Colorado Rapids to obtain the No. 12 overall selection.

Charlotte FC then selected forward Patrick Agyemang of the University of Rhode Island. In the second round, Charlotte FC selected forward Nick Scardina of the University of Washington at No. 40 overall. In the third round, the Club selected midfielder Andrew Privett of Penn State at No. 69 overall.

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