2017 MLS Expansion Draft 2nd Pick: Latif Blessing, forward from Sporting Kansas City
Background:
Transferred from Liberty Professionals FC of the Ghana Premier League on January 9, 2017. Blessing is a young winger who has demonstrated an exceptional ability to score goals during his time in Ghana. He will battle for playing time in 2017 as his development as a professional continues.
INTERNATIONAL: Blessing received his first call-up to the Ghana men's national team in December as a member of the Black Stars' 30-man provisional squad for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, but he was not selected to the final roster.
OUTSIDE MLS: Blessing was named the 2016 Ghana Premier League player of the year after leading the top flight with 17 goals in his first season on the senior team. He was also a finalist for the 2016 Ghanaian FA Cup Most Valuable Player award, helping Liberty Professionals reach the semifinals of the knockout competition.
Blessing, a product of the Liberty Professionals youth academy, debuted for the club's first team on Feb. 28, 2016 and opened his scoring account with a game-winning goal against Inter Allies one week later. He caught fire during the month of April with five goals over a three-game span, including a brace in a 5-1 victory over defending league champions Ashanti Gold.
