The boy with the world at his feet, dubbed the next Pele, Adu became the youngest player to ever play professional sport in the USA at the tender age of just 14. Adu's career started off very brightly at such a young age, but he could not live up to his height and his career slowly fizzled out.
Born in Ghana in 1989, Adu played football at an early age with men three times his age, when he was eight his mother one 'the Green Card Lottery'. A scheme in the USA that allows people from around the world to apply for a lottery that grans them permanent residence in the country, also known as a green card. His family moved to Rockville, Maryland in 1997 and began playing soccer in the country immediately, joining the academy of a local school and took part in the U.S. Olympic Development Program. He received US citizenship in 2003.
The U.S. Olympic Development Program took part in a Under-14 tournament against the Youth sides of Juventus and Lazio and they won and Adu was named MVP of the tournament. This put his name massively on the radar and he was selected by the MLS to take part in their 2004 draft as the number one overall pick. He was assigned to DC United in order to play close to home, becoming the youngest ever American to sign professional terms.
He become the youngest American to play in professional sport in DC's first game of the 2004 season when he came off the bench for the second half. Two weeks later he become the youngest ever goalscorer in the MLS, netting in a 3-2 loss away at the MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls). He finished his first season with five goals and three assists, not a bad return for a 14 year old. His age was criticised by the media and fans and many thought he was just too young and underdeveloped to play at his level. However, DC won the MLS that season and he played in three of their four playoff games.
He scored four in 25 games in his second season, he was suspended once for stating he should be playing more in the media. They finished second in the Eastern Conference but lost to Chicago Fire in the playoff semi-finals.
Manchester United took him on trial in November 2006, however he could not gain a work permit and he could only train with the club. He returned to DC and played regularly as a midfielder for the club. It was this season he made his debut for the US Men's National Team, coming off the bench against Canada in a friendly, despite interest from his native Ghana for a call up. He became the youngest player to play for the United States in this game.
Despite becoming an MLS Allstar this season, he was traded to Real Salt Lake for the 2007 season and he played 11 times and scored once. He moved to Europe this time permanently, with Benfica in Portugal. A move that cost them $2million. Adu played 14 times across all competitions in his first season, scoring once. Benfica did not really sign the player they thought they did and what was meant to be a great move for his career was ultimately his downfall.
The following season he was loaned to AS Monaco in Ligue 1, with an option to buy, and played nine times, failing to score and Monaco did not take up their option to buy. The following seasons he spent on loan at Belenenses in Portugal, Aris in Greece and Çaykur Rizespor in the Turkish second division. He was let go by Benfica in 2011, it really did not work out for the once promising wonder kid and he moved back to America with Philadelphia Union.
He did well across two seasons back in the MLS and the 2012 season was his personal best scoring 8 goals in 28 games. Despite this he was released at the end of the season. This is were things really went down hill for Adu.
Now 24, he did not have a club and he signed for Bahia in Brazil in April 2013. He played just four times and left a couple of months later. He had trials with Blackpool in England, Stabaek in Norway and AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, but failed to earn a contract with any of them in 2014.
In July 2014, Adu signed for Jagodina in Serbia, but only played once in the cup. On March 2015 he signed for Finnish side, but played six games for the club and left in July that year. He returned to America with Tampa Bay Rowdies in the North American Soccer League, the second tier. He played thirteen times across two seasons with the Rowdies, but failed to score. He even played with Joe Cole during his spell there.
Adu did not have a club for almost two years, going on trial around Europe but failing to earn a contract. He signed for Las Vegas Lights in the NASL, in 2018 and scored 1 goal in 14 games for them that season, but he was released after one year. Adu moved back to Maryland and began coaching youth soccer for two years. In October 2020 he signed for Österlen FF in the third tier of Sweden. However in February this year he was released being deemed not physically or mentally prepared for the club.
A real low for Adu who seems to want to play football at any level, but he just does not show the early promise that he did as a 14 year old. It was a lot too quickly for Adu and he never really recovered and lived up to his potential. After 14 clubs in nine different countries, Adu is now 31 and his dream of playing professionally seems to be over but there is always that tiny dwindling hope that he will still find some form and make a name for himself - however that seems to be just a pipe dream at this stage in his career.
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