Report: Adu to leave Union on Tuesday, Brazilian midfielder Kléberson coming in trade

UPDATE: Ives is now reporting that because of visa issues, Adu won't travel to Brazil until Wednesday. The earliest a deal could be completed is Thursday night.

It looks like Freddy Adu's tumultuous tenure with the Philadelphia Union is officially over.

Ives Galarcep of Soccer By Ives is reporting that Adu will travel to Brazil on Tuesday to sign a contract with Bahia, a team in Brazil's top league. Although the Union have yet to say anything publicly, if the move goes according to plan it will be announced before manager John Hackworth's weekly press conference on Wednesday.

Bahia would be the ninth club that Adu has played for since turning pro in 2004. He was 14 years old at the time, and remains Major League Soccer's youngest-ever player.

Now 23, Adu's once-bright prospects have fizzled out. The Union have spent months trying to get rid of him, and fielded multiple offers from inside and outside MLS. But neither the team nor Adu and his agent were able to agree on any of the proposed deals.

Adu's departure would be half of a swap that would bring Brazilian veteran Kléberson to PPL Park. A two-way central midfielder, Kléberson played on Brazil's 2002 World Cup-winning team and spent multiple seasons with Manchester United, Beşiktaş and Flamengo.

Selling Adu to a foreign club would clear his $519,000 guaranteed salary off the Union's books, and would also free up a roster spot. It looks like that roster spot would be given to Kléberson.

Globo Sport, one of Brazil's biggest news organizations, reported on Saturday that the Union are more interested in Kléberson than Bahia are in Adu. This report from IG.com.br (an outlet similar to AOL's old news operation) notes that Kléberson has been a drag on Bahia's payroll in a way similar to Adu's affect on the Union.

If the deal comes to pass, it will be interesting to see what the Union pay Kléberson. It seems unlikely that he would be a Designated Player.