Fredua Koranteng Adu became the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract in United States history when he joined D.C. United at age 14. Selected in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft, he transitioned from a youth prospect in Rockville, Maryland, to a professional attacking midfielder, eventually playing for 15 teams across nine countries during his career.
Early Development and Migration
Born in 1989 in Tema, Ghana, Adu moved to the United States in 1997 after his mother, Emelia, won a green card through the Diversity Immigrant Visa lottery. He attended Sequoyah Elementary School and later The Heights School in Potomac, Maryland. By 2003, he had gained United States citizenship and earned recognition within the U.S. Olympic Development Program for his performance in youth tournaments against international clubs like Juventus and Lazio.
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D.C. United secured Adu as the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. On April 3, 2004, he made his professional debut against the San Jose Earthquakes as a substitute, becoming the youngest player to appear in an MLS game. Later that month, he recorded his first professional goal against the MetroStars at age 14. Over his tenure with the club, he appeared in 30 regular-season games during his debut year and contributed to the team's MLS Cup victory.
International Career and Transitions
Adu made his full international debut for the United States in 2006 at age 16. He accumulated 17 caps, featuring in the 2008 Summer Olympics, the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and CONCACAF Gold Cups in 2009 and 2011. Following his time with D.C. United, he moved to Real Salt Lake in 2006. In 2007, he transferred to the Portuguese club Benfica for a $2 million fee, marking the beginning of a journeyman career that included loans to AS Monaco and Belenenses.
Fast facts
- Born: 1989, Tema
- Citizenship: United States and Ghana
- Professional debut: April 2004
- Award: Great Immigrants Award (2007)
- Total countries played: 9
- International caps: 17
- Education: The Heights School
Questions readers ask
What record did Freddy Adu set in 2004?
He became the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract in the United States and the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer game.
How many professional teams did Adu play for?
Over the course of his career, he played for 15 different teams.
