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English midfielder Mo Adams gives Reading United a fourth former player at the upcoming MLS Combine after he and five other underclassmen were announced as Generation adidas signings by Major League Soccer on Friday.
“I feel blessed to have signed a GA contract and to enter the MLS SuperDraft,” Adams said. “God has given me an opportunity to pursue my lifelong dream and I’m very excited to play at the next level. It’s good to know that all my hard work and sacrifices are paying off.”
Adams, who spent the last two college seasons at Syracuse, is one of two sophomores in the GA class along with Wake Forest forward Ema Twumasi.
Michigan forward Francis Atuahene and Maryland forward Gordon Wild, both juniors, and a pair of freshmen who played in the recent College Cup at Talen Energy Stadium - Indiana forward Mason Toye and Akron defender Joao Moutinho - round out the underclassmen signings who will be added to the MLS Combine list and be eligible for selection in the MLS SuperDraft on January 19 in Philadelphia.
Wild trained with the Philadelphia Union during his spring break in March, a couple weeks after he scored against the Union in a friendly at Talen Energy Stadium.
Adams will join former Reading United teammates Frantzdy Pierrot, Paul Marie and Pablo Aguilar at the Combine at Orlando City Stadium January 11-17.
A former Derby County FC youth, Adams played 348 minutes as a holding midfielder in five games in the PDL last season for the Philadelphia Union’s Premier Development League affiliate.
“Playing at Reading was very useful, I played under a great coaching staff,” he said. “The level of players was very good, which increased the intensity in training. I also got the opportunity to go and train with Bethlehem Steel and Philadelphia Union. Getting that type of experience early on becomes very handy because now I know what to expect at the professional level.”
Adams is the seventh Reading United alum to earn a GA deal with the league, joining Alex Bono (2015), Damion Lowe (2014), Deshorn Brown (2013), Andrew Wenger (2012), Zarek Valentin (2011) and Corey Hertzog (2011).