When he took over as president at French club Monaco, French-American Jerome de Bontin told Soccer America he hoped to sign one or two Americans for the 2008-09 season. Well, de Bontin lived up to his word, signing 19-year-old Freddy Adu on loan from Portuguese club Benfica with an option to buy.

Adu, who is shortly off to China to represent the USA in the Olympics,

His move comes almost a year to the day after he was transferred from Real Salt Lake to Benfica.

Adu's season in Lisbon began with promise but a series of coaching changes meant he was unwanted at Benfica. (Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores is the fourth head coach in 12 months.)

Adu, who scored two goals in 11 leagues games for Benfica, is expected to replace Martinique and France international Frederic Piquionne.

Monaco finished 12th in the 20-team Ligue 1 after languishing dangerously on the edge of the relegation zone with a month to go in the season.

Monaco has a nucleus of young talent - Jeremy Menez, Serge Gakpe and Djamel Bakar are among France's top young players - but it has been rather quiet on the summer transfer market.

Monaco opens the 2008-09 season at home on Aug. 9 against Paris St. Germain.

ADU STATS:
YEAR TEAM GP-G
2004 D.C. United 30-5
2005 D.C. United 25-4
2006 D.C. United 32-2
2007 Real Salt Lake 11-1
2007-08 Benfica 11-2