Adam Ahmad Najem (Persian: آدام نجم; born 19 January 1995) is a 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 | Clifton, New Jersey, 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
editYouth and college
editRaised in Clifton, 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
editNajem 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, in a 2–0 loss to Indy Eleven.[13]
International
editIn August 2018, Najem received his first international call-up to the Afghanistan national team.[14][15]
Personal
editAdam'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"
- ^ "Adam Najem". Gozips.com. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "Adam Najem". 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.
- ^ "Bethlehem Steel FC vs Rochester Rhinos". Uslsoccer.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ "Memphis 901 FC Adds Dynamic Adam Najem". 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.
- ^ "Adam Najem earns international call-up from Afghanistan National Team". Bethlehem Steel FC. August 14, 2018. Archived from the original on August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ^ Joe Tansey (August 14, 2018). "Philadelphia Union's Adam Najem earns first call-up to Afghanistan national team". 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. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
External links
edit- Adam Najem at National-Football-Teams.com
- Adam Najem at Global Sports Archive
- Adam Najem at Major League Soccer