Freddy Adu

Previous Club: Sporting Lisboa e Benfica (Portugal)

Pronunciation: Freddy A-Do

2011: Signed with Philadelphia Union on August 12 on a free transfer from Benfica… Made his debut vs. FC Dallas on August 13, starting and playing 62 minutes… Featured in 11 games during the 2011 season, starting six and logging 609 minutes. Scored two goals and assisted one more during the campaign…2011 MLS Cup Playoffs: Played in both of Philadelphia’s playoff games, coming off the bench in both and logging 37 minutes… Named the 6^th player on Major League Soccer’s 24 under 24 list.

2011: In his fourth loan away from Benfica, Adu moved to Çaykur Rizespor on Febraury 1 in the Turkish second-division (Bank Asya 1. Lig)... Debuted on February 20, assisting twice and receiving the Man of the Match… Scored his first goal for the club on March 6… Adu netted four goals in 13 appearances with Rizespor, consistently breaking into the starting XI.

2010: In January Adu joined U.S. national teammate Eddie Johnson in Greece when he signed an 18-month loan with Aris FC. He made his debut on January 31, coming on as a substitute and assisting a 90th-minute Eddie Johnson goal… On February 14 Adu scored his first goal in Europe since 2007 when he got the game winner against Ergotelis in stoppage time of the first half.

2009: Returned to Portugal after his spell in France and signed a season-long loan with Belenenses. The loan was cut short in December after just three League appearances and one appearance in the Portuguese Taça da Liga.

2008: In July Adu joined French club AS Monaco on a season-long loan with an option to join the team at the end of the stint, which was eventually rejected by Monaco…Made nine appearances all as a substitute.

2007: Transferred to Real Salt Lake on December 11… During 11 games in Utah Adu scored once and assisted twice, starting ten times for a total of 899 minutes… Midway through his stint with Real Salt Lake, his rights were bought by SL Benfica in the Portuguese Liga for a reported $2,000,000… He debuted with the Portuguese squad on August 14 against Copenhagen as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match. During his time with Benfica, Adu scored two goals in 11 appearances…

2006: Started 29 out of 32 games logging 2,521 minutes… Cemented his position as a starter in the D.C. lineup, scoring two goals and assisting eight…2006 MLS Cup Playoffs: Started all three of United’s post season matches for a total of 224 minutes, cautioned once… Named to the MLS All-Star team.

2005: Appeared in 25 games and started 16… Scored four goals and assisted six times… Won double honors for player of the week and goal of the week for his performance against Real Salt Lake in week 28…2005 MLS Cup Playoffs: Featured in one of United’s two games logging 45 minutes as a second half substitute.

2004: Freddy Adu became the youngest American athlete to sign a major league contract in more than 115 years when he joined Peter Nowak at D.C. United as the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft… Featured in each of United’s 30 games logging 1,440 minutes, 14 of which he started. Scored five goals and three assists during the regular season... Became the youngest player to score in MLS history in a 3-2 loss to MetroStars on April 17… Won the MLS goal of the week with his second half goal vs. LA Galaxy in week eight… 2004 MLS Cup Playoffs: Played in three post season games logging a total of 87 minutes and notching a game winning assist vs. the MetroStars in the quarterfinals… Named to the MLS All-Star team as a commissioner’s pick.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2011-2012: Trained with U-23 U.S. Men’s National Team ahead of 2011 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying, earning two separate appearances with the squad. 2011: Adu was included in the 2011 Gold Cup roster after a two-year absence from the US Men’s National Team … Adu came on for Juan Agudelo in the second half of a scoreless tie in the semifinal against Panama and provided Landon Donovan with a long, curving ball that led to Clint Dempsey’s game winner … Adu started the following game against Mexico in the final, playing a part in both goals during the 4-2 loss. 2009: Started two matches for the US Men’s National Team during the Gold Cup logging 153 minutes, and scoring once vs. Grenada on July 4... Scored in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on November 19 vs. Guatemala. 2008: Played in two of three matches for the US Men’s Olympic Team in Beijing logging 170 minutes… Member of the US Men’s National Team during the Gold Cup. 2007: Became the first player to score a hat trick in both the FIFA U-17 World Cup (vs. South Korea in 2003) and in the FIFA U-20 World Cup (vs. Poland in 2007)…Became the first player to represent the US in three U-20 World Cups (2003, 2005, 2007)… Captained the US Men’s Nation Team’s U-20 side in the 2007 World Cup. 2006: Became the youngest player ever capped with the US Men’s National Team on Jan. 22, 2006, appearing as an 81st-minute substitute against Canada. 2005: Played all four games and started three for the US Men’s U-20 team in the FIFA World Youth Championship… Started in three games and played in four at the U-20 FIFA World Cup logging a total of 297 minutes.