Freddy Adu of Tema, Ghana, was born in 1989 and moved to the United States with his family at the age of eight. Adu had a nag for soccer from a young age and began competing in neighborhood matches at the age of four. From then on, Adu practiced every day to make his game stronger.

Finding a new home in Potomac, Maryland, Adu found more exposure as a soccer player and when he was only ten years old, he represented U.S. in a tournament in Italy through the U.S. Olympic Development Program. A couple of years later, Adu became the youngest member in 115 years to sign a contract with the country’s under-17 team. Maintaining a balance between academics and athletics, Adu went to school and continued training at the IMG Academy in Florida simultaneously.

While attending school at The Heights at full scholarship, the soccer player not only managed to keep up his grades but graduated from high school three years early. He also had a nag for art and won the top prize in the county in fifth grade. Adu also played basketball in his high school and scored twenty-eight points in his first junior varsity game. However, soccer always remained at the top of his priorities.

Serving as a midfielder, Adu joined the DC United team in the Major League Soccer with a handsome amount of $500,000 per season. During the same time period, the rising star signed a contract with Nike as well which not only helped his career but provided relief to his single mother as well who had otherwise been working at multiple places to support the family.

Scoring five goals in 30 games in the 2004 season, Adu helped his team win the MLS Cup. Moving to Real Salt Lake in 2006, he experienced a short tenure there before joining the European team S.L. Benfica in 2007 who loaned him out to other teams over the following years.

In 2011, Adu returned to the United States to join the Philadelphia Union team. The same year, he played 11 games but managed to score only two goals. The following year, Adu acted as a starting player for 20 out of 24 games.

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