SALT LAKE CITY, United States (AFP) - Freddy Adu, the 18-year-old Ghana-born US forward who joined Major League Soccer at age 14, has departed Real Salt Lake to play for Benfica of Portugal, the European club announced.

A posting on Benfica's web site said Adu took part on Tuesday in his first training session with the Portugese club after leaving MLS-worst Real for what the Salt Lake Tribune reported to be a five-year deal worth 550,000 dollars a season.

"This is certainly a scenario that does not surprise us and we would like to thank Freddy for his time here and wish him the best of luck," Real coach Jason Kreis said.

Adu, expected to command a two million-dollar transfer fee, played for DC United, his hometown squad, until a trade to Real for this season, which has seen the team stumble to 1-9 with six drawn, on pace for the worst mark in MLS history.

A stellar performance earlier this month at the under-20 World Cup in Canada helped the Americans reach the quarter-finals and boosted Adu's stock overseas, where he had hoped to play in the upcoming season.

Adu was born in Ghana but came to the United States and became a citizen, playing briefly in one international match to commit his future World Cup eligibility to the Americans, closing the door on overtures from his birthland.

Adu skipped a Real loss on Saturday to begin his trek to Portugal. The move opens a roster spot and money under the MLS salary cap, with an MLS website posting saying possible replacements include Nigeria's Uche Chinyere, Frenchman Tony Versailles or Argentina's Edgar Espinola and Javier Morales.

Hyped as much for his youth as for skills that rarely shined in MLS, Adu produced only one goal with two assists in 11 MLS games.