Essien urges Adu to switch from the US

Michael Essien has urged Freddy Adu to turn down Manchester United and the US to join him at Chelsea and with Ghana.

Ghana midfielder Essien called on Adu - the world's most in-demand teenager - to make a double-switch on the back of Ghana's impressive World Cup campaign.

DC United prodigy Adu, 17, has been the subject of the competing attentions of rival managers Jose Mourinho of Chelsea and United's Sir Alex Ferguson. The midfielder is considering whether to switch nationality from the US back to his native Ghana after the Black Stars reached the last 16 in Germany.

'Freddy is a really good young player and I hope he joins me at Chelsea,' Essien said. 'It's now up to him to decide which country he wants to play for and he would be more than welcome in our team.'

Dennis Tawiah, the Ghanaian FA's UK organiser, said: 'Adu turned down the chance to come back before the tournament, but the FA are thinking about asking again ahead of the African Nations Cup in Ghana in 2008.'

Adu emigrated from Ghana to the US when he was eight.