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The winger was born in Tema in Ghana but emigrated with his parents to the US in the late 1990s.
Adu was once a favourite while playing for the US national team, but is gradually becoming a forgotten man.
The 30-year-old has had a journeyman career, which has seen him play for more than 10 clubs in the US, Europe and in Asia.
Currently without a club, Adu trains a youth team called Next Level Soccer and teaches them workouts and how to shoot.
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He drives nearly an hour each way to practice sessions near Baltimore, two and three times a week.
READ ALSO: AFCON 2019: Black Stars are not favourites, says Ayew But that was not supposed to the situation for a man who looked destined for greater things during his youth.
Adu was the phenom who would save American soccer from irrelevance. At 14 he started playing for Major League Soccer’s D.C. United.
He starred in a commercial for Pepsi’s Sierra Mist brand with Pele, who compared Adu to Mozart. He also signed a Nike deal.
He did a “Got Milk?” ad. He was on the cover of a cereal box, and the cover of Time magazine. In 2006, he trained briefly with Manchester United, then the world’s most important club.
All of that was years ago, but he’s still recognized in airports, although his career has since not gone to plan.
“I’m still plenty young. I’m not ready to give it up. Things haven’t gone the way that I would have wanted them to, obviously. But I love the sport too much to say I’m ready to give it up.” Says Adu.
“I’d like to stay in the States. I’ve been to some obscure places in my career. I’m not sure if I want to keep doing that. I’d like to play, but I’m hoping that it’s here,” he adds.