FC Cincinnati is set to sign midfielder Emmanuel Ledesma to a new contract ahead of its first season in MLS, a source with direct knowledge of the situation has told ESPN FC.
Ledesma, 30, has enjoyed a standout campaign in the USL, scoring 16 goals and adding 15 assists this season for FCC. That level of production is expected see him named USL MVP at the conclusion of the season. He has twice been named the league's Player of the Month, having won the award in June and September.
While the financials were not divulged, the source indicated Ledesma has signed a three-year deal -- two of which are guaranteed -- though he will earn below the TAM threshold in MLS that currently stands at $504,375.
He is the third player to be signed to an MLS deal ahead of Cincinnati's inaugural season in 2019, with forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Fatai Alashe also under contract for the upcoming year as well.
The Argentine has had a nomadic existence throughout his career, playing for 14 different clubs, including Cincinnati. He spent the bulk of his early years in Italy with the likes of Genoa and Crotone while also having loan spells with Salernitana and Novara.
Ledesma then moved on to England where he continued to bounce around. His longest spell came with Middlesbrough from 2012-15 when he made 64 league and cup appearances, scoring nine goals. Even then he was frequently loaned out, and had spells with Rotherham United, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Brentford.
After a brief spell with Greek Super League side Panetolikos in 2016, Ledesma spent a solitary season with New York Cosmos where he scored 10 goals in 21 league matches, before then signing with Cincinnati for 2018.