Adam Najem
Adam Ahmad Najem (Persian: آدام نجم; born 19 January 1995) is a Afghan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. Born in the United States, he plays for the Afghanistan national team.
| Najem with Philadelphia Union in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Adam Ahmad Najem | ||
| Date of birth | 19 January 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Wayne, United States | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2013 | New York Red Bulls | ||
| 2009–2013 | Paramus Catholic High School | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2016 | Akron Zips | 89 | (33) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015 | New York Red Bulls U23 | 6 | (0) |
| 2016 | Michigan Bucks | 11 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | Philadelphia Union | 5 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | → Bethlehem Steel (loan) | 37 | (5) |
| 2019 | Memphis 901 | 29 | (4) |
| 2020 | Wigry Suwałki | 2 | (0) |
| 2020 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 6 | (0) |
| 2021 | FC Edmonton | 16 | (1) |
| 2022 | New York Red Bulls II | 4 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Bhayangkara | 45 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018– | Afghanistan | 15 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 8 October 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 November 2021 | |||
Career edit
Youth and college edit
Raised in Wayne, New Jersey, Najem played prep soccer at Paramus Catholic High School.[1]
Najem played four years of college soccer at the University of Akron between 2013 and 2016, making 89 appearances, scoring 33 goals and tallying 29 assists.[2]
While at college, Najem also appeared for Premier Development League sides New York Red Bulls U23 and Michigan Bucks, where he won the 2016 PDL Championship.[3][4]
Club edit
Najem signed with Major League Soccer side Philadelphia Union on February 8, 2017, after acquiring his rights from New York Red Bulls in exchange for a second-round 2018 MLS SuperDraft pick.[5] He made his professional debut on April 1, 2017, while on loan with the Union's United Soccer League affiliate Bethlehem Steel, playing 90 minutes in a 3–2 loss to Rochester Rhinos.[6]
Najem joined USL Championship expansion club Memphis 901 on February 5, 2019.[7]
Najem joined Polish I liga club Wigry Suwałki on January 22, 2020[8]
On August 5, 2020, Najem returned to the United States, joining USL Championship side Tampa Bay Rowdies.[9]
On August 9, 2021, Najem signed with Canadian Premier League side Edmonton.[10] On February 9, 2022, the club announced that Najem and all but two other players would not be returning for the 2022 season.[11]
On May 19, 2022, Najem signed a 25-day short-term contract with New York Red Bulls II.[12] Najem made his first appearance for New York on May 21, 2022, during a 2-0 loss to Indy Eleven.[13]
International edit
In August 2018, Najem received his first international call-up to the Afghanistan national team.[14][15]
Personal edit
Adam's brother, David, is also a professional footballer.[16]
References edit
- ^ Adam Najem, Akron Zips men's soccer. Accessed February 24, 2022. "Hometown: Clifton, N.J.; High School: Paramus Catholic"
- ^ . Gozips.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ . Uslpdl.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "Report: Philadelphia Union acquiring homegrown rights for Adam Najem". Brotherlygame.com. January 23, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "Philadelphia Union Acquire Midfielder Adam Najem". Philadelphiaunion.com. February 8, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ . Uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ . Memphis901FC.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
- ^ "Adam Najem piłkarzem Wigier « Oficjalny Serwis Suwalskiego Klubu Sportowego Wigry". wigrysuwalki.eu. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Rowdies Add to Attacking Options with Adam Najem". August 5, 2020.
- ^ Charlie O'Connor-Clarke (August 9, 2022). "FC Edmonton signs American midfielder Najem for remainder of 2021 season". Canadian Premier League. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "FC Edmonton Announces Return of T-Boy Fayia & Darlington Murasiranwa". FC Edmonton. February 9, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
- ^ "Red Bulls II sign Adam Najem to 25-Day contract". May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Match Recap: NYRB II Falls to Indy Eleven, 2-0". newyorkredbulls.com. May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
- ^ . Bethlehem Steel FC. August 14, 2018. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ Joe Tansey (August 14, 2018). . prosoccerusa.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ "NEW MEXICO UNITED WELCOMES ACCOMPLISHED DEFENDER TO THE 2020 SQUAD". Tampa Bay Times. April 20, 2018. from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
External links edit
- Adam Najem at Major League Soccer