Two weeks ago, rumors emerged that Ligue 1 club AS Monaco were pursuing emerging American soccer stars Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley.

Half that rumor came to fruition yesterday. Portuguese club Benfica has sent the 19-year-old Adu to Monaco on a one-year loan deal with the possibility of a permanent move at the end of the season -- unless Adu has a career year in the French league, which would cause Benfica to pull him back and sell him to the highest bidder next summer. Still, it's a great move for Freddy, who is expected to get plenty of playing time in Monaco's midfield after he returns from the Olympics in Beijing, and right now, playing time is what he needs the most.

Monaco, a club whose French-American president is also on the U.S. Soccer Foundation Board of Directors, is continuing to pursue Bradley, though Middlesbrough and Bayer Leverkusen remain in the picture. At last report, however, Monaco was offering Heereveen a $13.6 million transfer fee for Bradley, which would be a record for an American player. Spanish runner-up Villareal paid MLS $10 million for Jozy Altidore last month.

(H/T: Soccer By Ives)