Lofty expectations

MLS's 14-year-old phenom faces spotlight, stays focused on field

Fourteen-year-old Freddy Adu's turn in the MLS spotlight started with a press conference in New York City. AP More on Freddy Adu Complete Freddy Adu Timeline Grant Wahl: Adu signing an MLS coup Grant Wahl: Adu takes the stage Wahl: As good as advertised at U-17s Wahl: Agent fields offers at U-17s Wahl: The beauty of Freddy SI Flashback: The world at his feet SI Flashback: Will U.S. fall for Adu? VIDEO: Adu raising U.S. hopes

NEW YORK (AP) -- Freddy Adu wanted to stay at home, so the 14-year-old phenom spurned offers from some of Europe's top teams and signed with Major League Soccer.

Adu's talents have brought comparisons with Pele, and he just might be the player who puts pro soccer in the mainstream in the United States.

"When I'm out there on the field, I'm not thinking about this stuff people are saying about me," Adu said Wednesday at a Madison Square Garden news conference to announce his signing with MLS.

He was to appear on David Letterman's Late Show later Wednesday.

"He is widely considered the best young soccer player in the world," commissioner Don Garber said. "And we believe that playing in his home country, in MLS, will further develop him as a player and, most importantly, as a person."

When he plays his first game with D.C. United next spring, he will become youngest player for a major American team since 14-year-old Fred Chapman debuted for Philadelphia of major league baseball's American Association in 1887, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Adu was courted extensively by English champion Manchester United. He chose to remain near his home in Potomac, Md., where he and his family have lived since immigrating from Ghana in 1997.

Adu said being able to stay at home at the start of his career made the choice easy.

"I have faith in MLS," he said. "I know they're going to treat me right."

Adu will be a Project-40 player -- an MLS program designed to accelerate the development of top young Americans while awarding them college scholarships for use in future years. He will be eligible for January's draft.

"We wanted to allow Freddy to pursue his dreams and develop his God-given talents," said Adu's mother, Emelia. "As he makes this next step at the age of 14, it was best for Freddy to stay in America and sign with MLS."

Adu's development has been watched closely for years. He was a high school All-American as a freshman and attended the U.S. Under-14 boys' national team camp in 2001. He began playing for the U.S. Under-17 team last year at age 13, scoring 22 goals in 2002 and a team-leading 29 goals in 46 matches this year.

Adu currently trains with the Under-17 team in Bradenton, Fla., where he is also expected to receive his high school diploma in May -- just days before his 15th birthday.

He hopes to make the U.S. team at the 2006 World Cup.

"I like to think of myself as having a pretty good chance," Adu said.

He hopes his chance to play with DC United will impress national team coach Bruce Arena.

"Hopefully I do some things on the field that make him think about bringing me in," Adu said.