Freddy Adu Joins Portugal's Benefica in $2 Million Deal

U.S. soccer phenom Freddy Adu, the youngest player ever signed by Major League Soccer four years ago, has been traded to Benefic of Protugal. Adu has been playing for Real Salt Lake in the MLS for this season, but under FIFA rules, became eligible to join a foriegn club. When RSL acquired Adu in a trade before the start of this season, RSL knew that Adu's departure was all but certain. Rumors abounded about where Adu would go in Europe, a goal of his for some time. Celtic in the Scottish Premier League was rumored as was Chelsea in the English Premier League at one time or another. To be honest, Benefica was not a club I though he would join, but his promise as a youngester have not really yeilded fruit so the bigger teams were probably not interested in him just yet.

Adu's career at DC United was markd by mediocre goal scoring and assists with eleven goals and 17 assists in three seasons, includuing the 2005 season where he spent more time with the U.S. Under 20 squad than he did with DC United. However, despite his gifts on the field, he was still a smart-alecky kid who thought he should get more playing time. Then-DC United coach Peter Novak did not start Adu in every match and Adu spent most of his first season coming in off the bench. The lack of playing time began to chafe Adu a great deal and the lack of goal scoring began to chafe DC United. The trade to RSL came as no surprise, but Adu has missed much of this season again playing for the U-20 national team in its strong run in the U-20 World Cup in Canada. Adi has played in 11 games this season for the struggling RSL, scoring just one goal and 2 assists. RSL is lagging far behind in the MLS Western Conference, with just nine points in 16 games thus far with a dismal 1-9-6 record.

Adu's transfer comes at a time when his stock may be rising. His performance in the U-20 World Cup included a prolific 3 goals and 4 assists in five games, thus taking part in 7 of the 11 goals scored by the U.S. in the Cup. His international play has been remarkably steady and thus the appeal to moving to Europe now before the opening of the Eurpoean season. Benefica, once a dominant team in European soccer (having won the Euro championship in 1961 and 1962), has done okay in recent years, finishing thrid in the Portugese league last year. Don't look for Adu to start with Benefica this year very much, perhaps in matches later in the season. But the Eurporean training and playing environment are probably much more akin to Adu's talents, which are much more free-flowing than he was able to experience in the MLS.


The struggling RSL is making out pretty good on the deal, with a $2 million dollar trasfer fee and eligibility to acquire another international player under MLS rules. I would expect the club to attempt to sign either a couple of younger players with goal scoring potential or an aging veteran scorer from a foriegn league. With this season essentially a wash for RSL, the younger players may be a better choice.