Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-8
Weight: 140 lbs.
Born: 1989, in Tema, Ghana
Hometown: Potomac, Md.
Club: SL Benfica (Portuguese SuperLiga)
At just 18 years of age, Freddy Adu appears to be coming into his own. After four seasons in Major League Soccer, Adu made the move to Europe in the summer of 2007, signing with SL Benfica in Portugal from Real Salt Lake. The young attacker has earned four caps with the Men's National Team, including a start against South Africa on Nov. 17 and an appearance against Mexico on Feb. 6, 2008.
- Became the youngest player in Major League Soccer history, appearing in his first game on April 3, 2004 and scoring a goal on April 17, 2004 at age 14.
- Was the first player to ever score a hat trick in both the FIFA Under-17 and Under-20 World Cups. First he tallied three goals against South Korea at the U-17 level in 2003, and four years later grabbed three more against Poland with the Under-20s in 2007.
- Became the youngest player ever capped with the Men's National Team on January 22, 2006 when he appeared as an 81st minute sub against Canada at the age of 16.
- Has played in four FIFA youth World Cups, representing the U.S. at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2003, 2005 and 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cups.
U.S. National Team - 2008: Came on as a second half sub in the United States' 2-2 draw with Mexico in February at Reliant Stadium in Houston ... 2007: Made his second appearance for the United States against Switzerland on Oct. 22 in Basel ... Given his first start for the MNT a month later on Nov. 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg ... 2006: Became the youngest player to earn a cap with the U.S. MNT at 16 years, 234 days when he came on to replace an injured Eddie Johnson on against Canada in San Diego on Jan. 22, 2006 ... Under-20s: One of the youngest players on the U.S. Under-20 World Cup squad -having just turned 18 at the start of the event - but one of the most experienced as he also played in the 2003 and 2005 FIFA World Youth Championships, the only player on the squad to do so ... Became just the second player in FIFA history to play in three Under-20 World Cups ... Named captain of the team for 2007 by head coach Thomas Rongen ... Set up both goals against Brazil in Under-20 World Cup ... Scored two goals and added an assist in 2007 CONCACAF Qualifying ... Earned first U-20 cap against Japan on Oct. 8, 2003 at age 14 ... Called up to 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship, he started four games and appeared in all five, helping the U.S to a fifth-place finish ...Played in all four games of the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship, and all three games of CONCACAF Qualifying ... Under -17s: Named 2003 U.S. Soccer Young Athlete of the Year ... Led the team with 16 international goals ... Scored four goals at the 2003 FIFA Under-17 World Championship, including a hat trick against South Korea in the opening game. First Appearance: January 22, 2006, vs. Canada ... First Goal: None.
Professional - 2007-08: Signed with Benfica of Portugal in August of 2007 following his U-20 World Cup campaign ... Has scored two goals for his side in league play ... 2007: Traded to Real Salt Lake from D.C. United in December of 2006 ... Appeared in 11 games and scored one goal for RSL before transferring to Europe ... 2006: Played in all 29 matches with D.C. United ... Scored two goals and registered a career-high eight assists, good enough for third on the team ... Named to the MLS All-Star team ... 2005: Played in 25 games, starting 16 ... Had a breakout game on May 7, assisting on two goals before finishing one in a 3-1 victory over Columbus ... 2004: In his rookie season, was one of only three players to appear in every match for D.C. ... Became the youngest player to ever appear in an MLS match on April 3 and became the youngest to ever score a goal on April 17 (at age 14) ... Selected by D.C. with the first pick of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft.
Personal
Born in Ghana and came to the United States at age eight with his mother and younger brother, Fro, when they won a green card lottery ... Fro was also a member of U.S. Soccer's U-17 Residency Program and plays soccer at George Mason University ... Lists former U-17 and U-20 standout Danny Szetela as his favorite teammate ever.
