Philadelphia Union Midfielder Adam Najem Earns International Call-Up From Afghanistan National Team

Union midfielder receives first-ever international call-up, becomes 12th active Union player to have earned senior international call-up.

CHESTER, Pa. (August 13, 2018) – Philadelphia Union announced today that midfielder Adam Najem has accepted a call-up from the Afghanistan Football Federation to represent the side ahead of an upcoming international friendly.

Najem, 23, is slated to head to Kabul, Afghanistan to join the Lions of Khurasan for their friendly vs. Palestine on August 19.

It is the first-ever international call-up for Najem, who joined the Union via trade from the New York Red Bulls on February 8, 2017. This season, he has made 14 appearances (14 starts) for Bethlehem Steel FC, totaling two goals and two assists. During his rookie campaign last year, he made five appearances (one start) for the Union, while adding 22 appearances (all starts) for Steel FC, scoring two goals and recording eight assists in USL play.

Najem becomes the 13th player on the Union’s active roster to have earned a senior international call-up, joining David Accam, Alejandro Bedoya, Andre Blake, Cory Burke, Warren Creavalle, Borek Dockal, Ilsinho, Olivier Mbaizo, Haris Medunjanin, Fafa Picault, Keegan Rosenberry and CJ Sapong.