Following a successful spring season, Penn State men’s soccer has added to its roster for the upcoming fall season. On Wednesday, the team announced if officially signed Senegalese defender Mani Diop.

Diop will likely be an important addition to the Nittany Lions’ backline. He already has experience at the professional level after playing for the Philadelphia Union reserve team during the first part of the 2021 season. Diop came through the Philadelphia Union Academy, which is developing into Jeff Cook’s biggest pipeline for talent.

The newcomer will join an already-stacked defensive unit, although it is unclear whether the current members of the squad will all stick around.

Captain Brandon Hackenberg was drafted by Orlando City SC in January and has yet to announce if he will use his final season of eligibility in the fall. Hackenberg’s center-back partner, Nicholas Rieple, just finished his redshirt junior season, making his return likely but still uncertain.

Diop joins a host of impressive youngsters in the backline, which includes freshmen Femi Awodesu and Tyger Evans. He is the second player signed for next year’s squad after Sean Bettenhausen.