Former USL Championship MVP Emmanuel Ledesma Signs with Indy Eleven
September 22, 2021 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Indy Eleven News Release
INDIANAPOLIS - Indy Eleven added a well-known commodity in USL Championship circles for the stretch drive of its 2021 regular season campaign with today's signing of former league Most Valuable Player Emmanuel Ledesma. Terms of the deal that brings the Argentinean playmaker to the Circle City will not be released, per club policy.
The 33-year-old attacking midfielder is currently completing the paperwork process for entry into the United States and is expected to join Indiana's Team as early as next week. The native of Quilmes, Argentina, brings a wealth of experience to Indy Eleven after playing 13 seasons across Europe and the Americas, during which he tallied 61 goals and 50 assists in 277 professional league and cup matches.
"To receive a player the quality of Emmanuel Ledesma at this point in our season signifies we still have every expectation to not only reach, but to succeed in the USL Championship Playoffs," said Indy Eleven Interim Head Coach Max Rogers. "Emmanuel has proven that he can be a special performer in this league, and we look forward to his contributions in the coming weeks as we aim to reward our fans with a postseason berth."
After rising through the youth ranks at Serie A side Genoa, Ledesma spent most of his first three seasons in Italy (Salernitana, Novara Calcio & Cortone); however, he made his professional first team debut in 2008 while on loan to English Championship side Queens Park Rangers. After two stints with Walsall in England's League One and a brief return home to Argentina to his boyhood club of Defensa y Justicia, Ledesma returned to the English second flight for five seasons in the Championship from 2010-16 with Middlesborough, Rotherham United (twice), Brighton Hove & Albion, and Brentford.
A short stint with Greek Super Club side Panetolikos preceded Ledesma's first trek to the United States to join the NASL's New York Cosmos in 2017, when he bagged 10 goals in 21 contests playing alongside his new Eleven teammate and captain Ayoze. Ledesma dazzled with FC Cincinnati during his USL Championship MVP campaign in 2018, scoring 16 goals to go along with a then league record 16 assists in helping FCC to another Championship record of 77 points from regular season play. After he stayed with Cincinnati for its inaugural season in Major League Soccer in 2019, Ledesma spent the last two years in the Finnish First Division (Veikkausliiga) with SJK (Seinäjoen Jalkapallokerho) before returning stateside with Indy Eleven.
Ledesma's addition brings the active Indy Eleven (8W-11L-5D, 29 pts., 6th place in Central Division) roster to 27 players as the club enters the final quarter of its 2021 regular season slate, which begins tonight with a crucial away affair at Memphis 901 FC (7W-8L-7D, 28 pts., 7th in Central). Kickoff from AutoZone Park in Memphis is set for 8:00 p.m. ET for a contest fans can watch live on MyINDY-TV 23 and ESPN+ and track online via the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed, presented by Central Indiana Honda Dealers.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from September 22, 2021
- Charlotte Independence Secure Fourth Consecutive Clean Sheet in 2-0 Win over Miami - Charlotte Independence
- Legion FC Returns to Winning Ways with Emphatic 4-0 Victory against Atlanta United 2 - Birmingham Legion FC
- Opportunistic Memphis Earn Home Victory over Indy Eleven - Memphis 901 FC
- Atlanta United 2 Loses 4-0 vs. Birmingham Legion FC - Atlanta United 2
- Battery Fall 2-3 to New York at Patriots Point - Charleston Battery
- Matchday Report: Independence Continue Winning Streak vs. Miami - Miami FC
- Trusting the Process: Meet Carlos Saldaña - Sacramento Republic FC
- Sporting Kansas City II Signs 16-Year-Old Academy Forward Mataeo Bunbury to Academy Contract - Sporting Kansas City II
- Tacoma Looks to Bolster Playoff Position as It Welcomes Sacramento Republic FC - Tacoma Defiance
- Sorto Named to El Salvador's Roster - Rio Grande Valley FC Toros
- FC Tulsa Launches 'Section 918' to Reward Those Doing Good in Tulsa - FC Tulsa
- Former USL Championship MVP Emmanuel Ledesma Signs with Indy Eleven - Indy Eleven
- OCSC Midfielder Eric Calvillo Called up to the El Salvador National Team for September Friendly - Orange County SC
- Match Preview: Oakland Roots vs San Diego Loyal - Oakland Roots
- Sporting KC II to Host FC Tulsa on Friday - Sporting Kansas City II
- Game at Miami FC Moved up to Saturday, October 16 - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Pair of Road Matches for SD Loyal Begin in Bay Area - San Diego Loyal
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
