Americans Abroad: Adu joins Johnson as loan acquisitions by Aris of Greece.

Adu joins Johnson as loan acquisitions by Aris of Greece.

By Robert Wagman (in Washington, D.C.)
SoccerTimes

(Wednesday, January 6, 2010) -- American midfielder Freddy Adu has been obtained by Aris, a Greek club, on an 18-month loan from Benfica of Portugal.

Adu joins another American, striker Eddie Johnson, who was obtained on loan a week ago by Aris from Fulham of the English Premier League.

Both players are vying for a position, presumably as a reserve, on the U.S. team that competes in the World Cup this summer in South Africa

"A lot of thought and research went into this," Adu said on his Twitter feed.

Adu, 20, has never lived up to the promise he exhibited when he signed at 14 in 2004 with D.C. United as the youngest Major League Soccer player ever. Two years later, he debuted with the U.S. men, the youngest player ever with the national team. In 15 appearances, Adu has two goals for the U.S.

After playing for D.C. United and Real Salt Lake in MLS, Adu signed with Benfica on July 31, 2007. His addition made no impact with Benfica and he was loaned in September to Belenenses, a smaller club in Portugal. While Benfica is tied for first place in Portugal's Liga, Belenenses is tied for last and Adu could not crack the starting lineup there. He played only 81 minutes for Belenenses on what was supposed to be a year-long loan.

Aris is fourth in the Greek Super League at 6-3-7 with 25 points.

Adu told the Aris radio station he would report Thursday to the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki where the team is based. "I watched last night's game. I really like the way Aris plays with (Spanish forward) Toni Calvo," Adu said. "We play a similar type of game."

Johnson, 25, made only four appearances with Fulham this season, starting once in a League Cup match against Manchester City, while coming off the bench in league games against Aston Villa and West Ham United, and in a Europa League qualifier against Vetra of Lithuania.

Johnson played for the Kansas City Wizards in MLS before signing with Fulham in January 2008. He was loaned to Cardiff City in England's second-division League Championship for the 2008-09 season. He has 12 goals in 39 appearances for the U.S. men. Last month, he played for the U.S. for the first time since April 2008.

Edu returns as Rangers reserve

U.S. midfielder Maurice Edu, who has been rehabbing his surgically repaired knee since May, is finally fit and has returned to Glasgow Rangers.

Meanwhile, American midfielder DaMarcus Beasley who just a few weeks ago looked like he was on his way out at Rangers before suddenly finding his form, has missed the last two Rangers matches with a thigh strain suffered in training.

Edu was called on in the 13th minute of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Glasgow Celtic with Rangers using an 81st-minute goal for the tie in the first of two annual Old Firm matches between the crosstown rivals.

Edu came on early when midfielder Nacho Novo was injured. He looked to be less then fully fit and seemed to tire in his second appearance -- and by far the longer -- since his return.

Rangers were back on their heels for most of the match, outshot 18-4 and fortunate Aiden McGeady failed to capitalize on a grievous Edu error and shot his wide-open chance high.

Celtic finally broke through in the 79th minute for a lead that lasted two minutes.

Edu, after playing 80 minutes in a reserve match, saw his first action of the season December 27, going the final 15 minutes of Rangers' 4-1 victory over host Hibernian.

Three days later, he was not needed when Rangers destroyed Dundee United 7-1 behind five goals from Kris Boyd.

Robert Wagman is SoccerTimes senior correspondent.

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