Congo-born, London-bred forward tops MLS Draft picks

Steve Zakuani, a 20-year-old forward born in the Republic of Congo and raised in London, was the top pick in Thursday’s Major League Soccer Draft, going to the expansion Seattle Sounders.

Zakuani, who played this past season at the University of Akron, moved from Africa to England at age four and played with Arsenal’s youth squad from 1997 to 2003 and from 2003 through 2007 at London’s Independent Football Academy.

Zakuani, whose older brother Gabriel plays from Fulham, scored 20 goals this past season for Akron.

“I’m excited. It’s an honor for me, honestly, and it’s a dream come true as well,” Zakuani said. “I just really can’t wait to get started. I’m so happy to be going there.”

Toronto selected US midfielder Sam Cronin with the second pick. The Los Angeles Galaxy took US defender Omar Gonzalez third overall and Toronto chose Canadian forward O’Brian White with the fourth pick.