Just a few years ago, the Ghanaian forward was harnessing his talent on the dusty pitches of his hometown Sampa and is now shining under the bright lights of European football.
Adu’s path to European football stardom was anything but straightforward. Once heralded as one of Ghana's brightest talents and named among the Guardian’s top 60 young footballers in 2020, his promising career nearly ended before it truly began.
What should have been his breakthrough moment turned into his greatest challenge when a devastating meniscus injury left him sidelined for nearly two years.
"It was a really difficult moment in my life because I had never experienced injury before," Adu revealed in an interview with Flashscore.
"I decided to quit football because my knee was not healing. I didn't know whether I could come back and play football again. I didn't know how I would do the surgery or recover."
The injury occurred during the final Ghana Premier League match before Adu was scheduled to fly off for the U20 African Cup of Nations. While playing for Bechem United against Berekum Chelsea, he landed awkwardly while challenging for an aerial ball. What initially seemed like a routine injury soon revealed itself to be far more serious as he missed the youth tournament in Mauritania.
An MRI confirmed damage to his meniscus, leading to a failed surgery attempt and a year spent at home contemplating whether his football dream had ended before it had truly begun.
During this dark period, Adu returned to his hometown of Sampa, where he found solace and strength.
"It was tough so I went back to my hometown to stay there and relax my mind. At that point I wasn't thinking about playing football again. Being injured for such a long period made me question a lot of things."
Salvation came in the form of an opportunity from Danish club Randers, who flew him to Denmark for proper surgery. Though he struggled to regain his form during his time there, this crucial intervention prevented his career from ending prematurely.
After negotiations between Randers and Bechem United stalled, Adu returned to Ghana before embarking on his European journey with a move to Belarus.
"In total I stayed home for about two years without football. I started personal training in Ghana before getting in shape and getting a move to Belarus," Adu recounted.
This move to FC Isloch in February 2023 marked the true beginning of his European adventure, though the cold weather presented an immediate challenge to the young Ghanaian.
Check out more sports news
What followed was a remarkable ascent through European football. In just 12 months, Adu moved from Belarus to Ukraine's FC Kryvbas Kryvyi Rih before landing at Czech giants Viktoria Plzen in August 2024 after scoring 9 goals in 29 appearances for his past two clubs.
"I think when I got the injury I still worked very hard so that when I came back I would be able to get back to my old levels. As a player, you have to remain focused, stay positive and work hard no matter the difficulty."
Ironically, before joining Plzen, Adu faced his future club in the Europa League qualifiers while playing for Kryvbas. He even scored against them, showcasing the goal-scoring prowess that would convince Plzen to sign him shortly afterwards.
Since joining Viktoria Plzen, Adu has been nothing short of sensational. With 10 goals in 28 appearances during the 2024/25 season, including three crucial goals in the Europa League, he has quickly established himself as a key player for the Czech side.
“When I came here they told me about the club records and what they did in previous years and it was really impressive. Plzen are one of the biggest clubs in Czech Republic so if you are playing here you have to ready for the challenges and everything that comes with it.”
Since the 2021/22 season, Plzen haven’t won the league and are currently 13 points behind the leaders. However, Adu is still optimistic of a potential comeback.
“We still have the hope. We have a lot of matches to play but at the moment we take it game after game. We hope by the end of the season we end up as league winners.”
Plzen’s form in Europe has been in sharp contrast to their European adventure. The Czech side finished 16th in the Europa League phase but brushed Ferencvaros 3-1 in the playoffs.
One of the most memorable moments in Europe for the Ghanaian came in September 2024, when he scored a vital goal in the 86th minute against Eintracht Frankfurt, sparking a comeback that resulted in a dramatic 3-3 draw.
Later in January 2025, his goal against Anderlecht helped secure Plzen's progression to the Europa League knockout stages for the first time in six seasons.
“This feeling was great because playing the Europa League is a dream come true. I grew up watching the Europa League and Champions League so getting the opportunity to play at this level is great. My first goal was against Frankfurt and I was very happy about it.”
His performances have not only thrilled fans in the Czech Republic but have also brought joy to his hometown in Ghana.
"When I score a goal I know I make the whole of Sampa happy. They love me and I love them as well because of the support they have shown me. It has been a very long time since we have seen a player from my hometown play at the top level," the striker revealed.
As Adu continues to make his mark in European football, he draws inspiration from two footballing icons: Luis Suarez and Ghana's own Asamoah Gyan.
"Growing up I watched Luis Suarez and Asamoah Gyan. You know Gyan is a Ghanaian legend who did a lot for our national team," Adu explained.
"My style is very similar to Luis Suarez so I watch his videos a lot. The way Suarez scores, runs, his movement, with and without the ball, and off the pitch. I like everything about him and really learn a lot from him. Growing up I loved watching him and I even still watch him in the MLS.”
This admiration for Suarez's relentless work ethic and Gyan's patriotic performances has helped shape Adu's approach to the game. His hard work in training translates to clinical finishing on match days, a quality that will be essential against a defensively sound Lazio side.
Despite his rapid rise, he remains hungry for more. When asked about seeing other players from the 2020 list of top young talents - like Jhon Duran, Florian Wirtz, Xavi Simons, Benjamin Sesko, and Jamal Musiala - playing in the Champions League, the 21-year-old expressed confidence in his own trajectory.
"I'm working hard because it is my dream to also play in the Champions League. In a few years to come I believe I will get that opportunity," he said with determination.
This ambition extends to his current club as well, with Adu adding, "The players at Plzen we always talk about playing in the Champions League in future because it would be such a great achievement. Winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League is the target and what we are working for.”
Despite his European success, the former Bechem United striker still harbours unfulfilled ambitions with Ghana's national team. His brief taste of international football in 2020 left him hungry for more, despite the disappointment of having to leave camp prematurely.
"In 2020 I was called to the Black Stars and joined the camp as a late call-up. Later, I had to leave the camp because the coach explained to me the player I was called to replace had decided to honour the call-up."
Though the experience might have demoralised others, Adu found perspective in his selection. "I was still proud of this achievement because I was still selected out of so many players to represent the country. It was good for me and in future if I am to get another call-up I will be there. I am working hard for that.”
As Viktoria Plzen prepares to face Lazio in the Europa League round of 16, all eyes will be on Adu. The match represents not just another game but a chance to showcase his talents on an even bigger stage against one of Italy's biggest clubs.
For the young man from Sampa who once thought his career was over before it began, this European night under the floodlights represents the latest chapter in an extraordinary story of resilience. Whether Plzen advance or not, Adu’s journey from the Ghana Premier League to starring in European competition serves as an inspiration to aspiring footballers.
