Freddy Adu set to debut with Las Vegas Lights FC in USL

Freddy Adu is now 28 years old, and he is set to debut for Las Vegas Lights FC in the USL Saturday night.

Once upon a time (2004), 14-year old Freddy Adu became the youngest athlete to sign in the United States when he was drafted by D.C. United in the MLS. He never lived up the promise of being the one to bring soccer to the forefront in United States, but Adu has been playing soccer professionally somewhere continuously all these years later.

The latest stop on Adu’s nomadic soccer journey has landed him in the USL, with the expansion Las Vegas Lights. He was officially added to the club’s roster on Thursday, so he’s available for a likely debut Saturday night in the Lights’ regular season home opener against Reno 1868 FC.

The Lights will be Adu’s 14th professional club in as many years. Let’s take a look at where he’s been (h/t to Bleacher Report).

• D.C. United (2004-2006)
• Real Salt Lake (2007)
• Benfica (2007-2011)
• Monaco (2008-2009-loan)
• Belenenses (2009-loan)
• Aris  (2010-loan)
• Caykur Rizespor (2011-loan)
• Philadelphia Union (2011-2013)
• Bahia (2013-loan)
• Jagodina (2014-2015)
• KuPS (2015)
• KuFu 98 (2015-loan)
• Tampa Bay Rowdies (2015-2016)
• Las Vegas Lights (2018-)

Even being out of soccer since 2016 with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL, it’s been quite a journey for Adu. He has played in the United States, Portugal, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Brazil, Serbia and Finland. He has also made 17 appearances for the United States national team during that time, most recently in 2011 though, and he played with the American Under-23s during Olympic qualifying in 2012.

Adu’s trip through pro soccer sort of came full circle during his preseason trial run with the Lights. In a scrimmage Feb. 24 against D.C. United, his first professional club, the 28-year old recorded an assist.

Next: MLS Fantasy: 5 best value picks for Week 4

Bringing Adu in is a business-tilted move for the Lights, as they debut in the USL and look to build some sort of fan base in a true “city that never sleeps.” He’s still a recognizable name, even to very casual soccer followers, with the promise to carry the torch for American soccer on a world scale long gone.