American soccer player Freddy Adu, once dubbed as "the next Pele," will continue his nomadic career by playing in Scandinavia.
Pele spent the first 18 years of his legendary career with the one club, Santos of Brazil. Adu, 25, will play for his 11th club in his 11th year after turning pro. Finland's club Kuopion Palloseura announced it signed Adu to a one-year deal.
Kukas sieltä @ari_lahti:n vierestä löytyykään? Tervetuloa Kuopioon, @FreddyAdu! #KuPS #veikkausliiga pic.twitter.com/SvBrNDiOcP
— Kuopion Palloseura (@KuPS1923) March 28, 2015The transaction will go through as long as Adu passes the club's medical examination. Kuopio FC planned a press conference to announce the signing at a later date.
In 2004, Adu, 14 at the time, became the youngest athlete to sign a professional contract in the U.S. when he joined DC United of Major League Soccer. He later played with Real Salt Lake and the Philadelphia Union. Adu has failed to stick or meet expectations. He spent time playing for clubs in Ghana, Portugal, Turkey, Greece, Brazil and Serbia.
Adu also played for the United States, on its Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 teams before getting 17 caps with the men's national team. He hasn't played for the men's national team since 2011.