Adu to sign with MLS' Union

Freddy Adu is coming back to Major League Soccer, and he will be joining a team he could help turn into a legitimate title contender.

After initially being linked to a move to Chivas USA, sources within MLS have told Fox Soccer that Adu will be signing with the Philadelphia Union. An announcement on the move is expected to be made on Friday.

The signing re-unites Adu with Union head coach Peter Nowak, who was head coach of D.C. United during Adu’s early years in MLS.

Chivas USA had been lining up a move to acquire the 22-year-old midfielder, and had a move to sign him as a designated player lined up only to have ownership balk at the move at the last minute. That decision paved the way for Adu to move to Philadelphia, where he’ll be joining a Union side currently battling the Columbus Crew for first place in the Eastern Conference.

Adu will not be joining the Union as a designated player.

Adu’s arrival comes just as the Union looks to revamp an offense that recently lost striker Carlos Ruiz to a transfer to Mexican side Veracruz. Philadelphia will be hoping Adu can provide the playmaker the squad has sorely needed since joining MLS last year. Combining Adu with the forward tandem of Danny Mwanga and Sebastien LeToux could give the Union the sort of high-powered attack they will need to make a deep playoff run.

An Adu-Nowak reunion might seem odd considering the way they clashed during Adu’s time in DC, but the two repaired their relationship in the years after, and worked together on the 2008 US Olympic Team. When asked about Adu a year ago, Nowak said he still rated Adu as a player and would love the chance to work with him again.