Momo Diop has made the leap to the professional level, signing with USL League One side One Knoxville SC. He made his debut on September 5 against AV Alta and scored a goal that ignited a dramatic comeback in a 3-2 win over Fort Wayne FC on September 16.
Diop came to Asheville in the midst of the 2026 season and played a major role in the Blues qualifying for the USL League Two playoffs and making a run to the Eastern Conference Final. Diop joined the squad on July 5 in a 3-1 win over NCFC U23 and won Man of the Match after scoring the game-winning goal. He remained a persistent and lethal scoring attack throughout the remainder of the season in Asheville and was a major reason for the Blues lengthy playoff run to the Eastern Conference Final.
Diop played his college ball at Rider and Marshall and spent three years with the Broncos before finishing up his collegiate career with the Thundering Herd. The forward registered 14 goals and six assists in 56 matches during his time in New Jersey, helping Rider win the MAAC Championship and punch their ticket to the NCAA tournament in 2023. He earned All-MAAC 1st team honors his final two seasons with the Broncos, and won the MAAC gold boot in 2024 after netting 10 goals throughout the campaign. He then transferred to Marshall for his final season of collegiate ball, where he scored two goals in 13 matches as the Thundering Herd posted a 12-4-5 record and earned a trip to the NCAA tournament.
“So proud of this club proving we can take a player who has been overlooked and help him boost his profile to sign a professional deal,” said USL2 Sporting Director Scott Wells. “Momo has already become an impact player for One Knox immediately.”
