Fanendo Adi

Fanendo Adi (born 10 October 1990) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Columbus Crew SC in Major League Soccer.

Fanendo Adi
Adi with Portland Timbers in 2016
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-10-10) 10 October 1990
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Columbus Crew
Number 9
Youth career
Lagos Islanders
Union Bank
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 AS Trenčín 42 (18)
2011 Metalurh Donetsk 9 (1)
2011 → Dynamo Kyiv (loan) 3 (0)
2011–2012 Tavriya Simferopol 9 (1)
2012–2013 AS Trenčín 19 (10)
2013–2014 Copenhagen 9 (3)
2014 → Portland Timbers (loan) 6 (4)
2014–2018 Portland Timbers 120 (50)
2018–2019 FC Cincinnati 12 (1)
2018 → FC Cincinnati (USL) (loan) 9 (3)
2020– Columbus Crew 0 (0)
National team‡
2011 Nigeria U23 2 (3)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 2 October 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 2 December 2014

Club career

Europe

Following his transfer from AS Trencin, Adi scored a goal in his F.C. Copenhagen debut against FC Vestsjælland on 25 August, despite not having his work and residency permit.[1]

In January 2011, Adi, then 20 years old, was invited for a trial by Ajax for the second time.[2]

Portland Timbers

On 13 May 2014, Adi went on loan with the option to buy to Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. He made his debut coming on as a substitute against Columbus Crew and got the game tying assist, a feat which earned him a start in the following match.[3] In his first start for the club, on 28 May 2014 against Chivas USA, Adi scored his first and second goals for the club. On 7 June he received his second start and scored two goals in the first half against Real Salt Lake.[4]

Adi was signed permanently by the Portland Timbers on 23 June 2014. He became the club's fourth ever Designated Player.[5] On 8 April 2017, after scoring a penalty kick against the Philadelphia Union, Adi became the Timbers' all-time leading goalscorer, with 46 goals.[6]

FC Cincinnati
Adi with FC Cincinnati in 2018

Adi was traded from Portland Timbers to MLS expansion side FC Cincinnati on 30 July 2018 for a deal worth up to $1,000,000 in allocation money. He played the remainder of the 2018 season with FC Cincinnati in the United Soccer League ahead of the club's move up to Major League Soccer.[7]

Adi started in the first three matches of FC Cincinnati's inaugural MLS season. However, in the third match on 17 March (Cincinnati's home opener against Portland Timbers), he was injured after a collision with Larrys Mabiala late in the first half, and was subbed out at halftime.[8] He remained on the bench with a left ankle injury the next two matches.

At approximately 3:45am on 31 March 2019, Adi was pulled over by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and cited for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol (OVI), speeding, and not possessing a valid driver's license. According to the police, Adi was driving 102 mph in a 65 mph zone, showed a blood alcohol content of 0.124 in a breathalyzer test, and possessed only a Ukrainian driver's license.[9] Adi was suspended by FC Cincinnati and entered MLS' Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health program.[10]

Adi was cleared from suspension on 24 April and began practicing with the team the following day; however, his minutes remained limited as his ankle was still recovering. He made his first appearance since the injury in the final 11 minutes of a San Jose Earthquakes match on 4 May. He played another 26 minutes as a substitute in the following two matches. On 25 May, Adi started for the first time since 17 March and played a full 90 minutes.[11]

Adi scored his first goal of 2019 in a U.S. Open Cup match against Louisville City FC on 12 June.[12] He scored his first goal in the 2019 MLS season on July 13 against the Chicago Fire. It gave FC Cincinnati the lead and victory, 2–1.[13]

Following a tumultuous season with Cincinnati, Adi was waived by the club on 17 January 2020, ahead of the 2020 season.[14]

Columbus Crew

On 27 January 2020, Columbus Crew SC announced that it had claimed Adi off the Major League Soccer Waiver List.[15]

International career

Adi was called up to Nigeria's U23 team twice in 2011. He was also called up to the senior Nigeria squad to face Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in March 2016 but did not play.[16]

Honours

Portland Timbers

FC Cincinnati

  • USL regular season: 2018

References
  1. "FCK: Fanendo Adi er overrasket og forvirret". dr.dk.
  2. "De Boer rozhodol, Ajax opäť skúša Adiho" (in Slovak). AS Trenčín official website. 22 January 2011. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  3. "2014". timbers.com.
  4. "Fanendo Adi". Portland Timbers.
  5. "Portland Timbers exercise purchase option on striker Fanendo Adi, sign as Designated Player to multiyear contract". Portland Timbers.
  6. "Philadelphia Union 1, Portland Timbers 3 2017 MLS Match Recap". MLSsoccer.com.
  7. "FCC Announces Adi As First MLS Designated Player". FC Cincinnati. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  8. Baer, Benjamin (17 March 2019). "Fanendo Adi exits FC Cincinnati home opener with injury". MLSsoccer.com. Major League Soccer. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  9. Brennan, Patrick; Coolidge, Sharon; Londberg, Max (3 April 2019). "FC Cincinnati's Fanendo Adi cited for OVI, speeding faster than 100 MPH". Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  10. Pfahler, Laurel (3 April 2019). "After Fanendo Adi's drunk driving citation, FC Cincinnati plot a way forward". The Athletic. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  11. Pfahler, Laurel (1 June 2019). "Finally back in FCC lineup, Adi's ready to score some goals". WCPO. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  12. Brennan, Patrick (12 June 2019). "FC Cincinnati survives extra time, Louisville City FC in 2–1 Open Cup victory". Cincinnati Enquirer. Gannett Company. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  13. Hatch, Charlie (13 July 2019). "Takeaways from Chicago". FC Cincinnati.
  14. "FC Cincy place Adi, Hague on waivers". FC Cincinnati.
  15. "Columbus Crew SC selects forward Fanendo Adi off MLS waiver list". columbuscrewsc.com. 27 January 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2020.
  16. "Delighted Fanendo Adi ready to play part in Super Eagles campaign". goal.com. 3 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  17. "Goals, screw-ups, stats and more: Everything great from the MLS Cup Final". SBNation.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  18. "Portland Timbers, fans celebrate Western Conference Championship". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
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