MLS: Top 5 African players in league history

By Matt Coles | Apr 28, 2020

COMMERCE CITY, CO - AUGUST 03: Kei Kamara #23 of the Colorado Rapids gestures to fans following a goal during the first half against the Montreal Impact at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on August 3, 2019 in Commerce City, Colorado. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – JULY 18: Fanendo Adi #9 of the FC Cincinnati walks off the field after a game against the D.C. United at Nippert Stadium on July 18, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4. Fanendo Adi

Fanendo Adi comes in at number four and is one of only two players on the list to still be playing in MLS. He signed for Portland Timbers on loan in the early part of 2014, and within a month, he had shown the MLS side enough for them to sign the striker on a permanent basis.

A year later, Adi was influential in the Timbers winning the MLS Cup for the first time in their history as they defeated Columbus Crew in the final. The Nigerian forward went on to become the club’s record goal-scorer in MLS, scoring 54 times over his four-year spell with the side. That record has since been broken by none-other than Diego Valeri.

He signed for FC Cincinnati in late 2018 ahead of their inaugural MLS campaign a year later. Firstly, the striker helped them win the USL regular-season title prior to their move up to MLS as the 24th team in the league. However, he struggled to find form, scoring just once before signing for Columbus Crew ahead of the 2020 campaign.

Adi currently has 55 goals and 14 assists in 139 regular-season matches in Major League Soccer, and he will continue to be a force with the Crew when the season gets back underway.

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