Azaad Liadi Bio
Azaad Liadi (born May 14, 1998) is an American soccer player who plays as a winger. He has spent his professional career in the lower divisions of American soccer, most recently competing in USL League One. Liadi became a professional in 2020 and has represented clubs across several states while also gaining brief experience with a Major League Soccer organization.
Standing 1.85 meters tall, Liadi is known for his work on the wing and his ability to contribute goals from wide positions. After a college career split between Saginaw Valley State University and Georgia Southern University, he transitioned into the professional ranks and has since built a steady résumé in United Soccer League competitions.
Early Life and Background
Azaad Liadi was born on May 14, 1998, in Sterling Heights, Michigan, in the United States. He grew up in the metropolitan Detroit area, a region with a long tradition of competitive youth soccer and a strong pipeline of talent into collegiate programs. His path into the sport followed the American route of combining high school play with the U.S. collegiate system.
Public information about his immediate family is limited, and details about his parents and home life have not been widely reported. What is clear is that Liadi developed his game in Michigan before pursuing college soccer, eventually leaving the state to play in other parts of the country as his career progressed.
Path to Soccer
Liadi began his collegiate career at Saginaw Valley State University, where he spent three seasons with the Cardinals. Over that span, he made 56 appearances and scored 11 goals, establishing himself as a regular contributor in the attack. His production at the Division II level drew attention and laid the foundation for a transfer to a higher-profile program.
For his senior year, Liadi moved to Georgia Southern University, joining the Eagles for the 2019 season. He made 16 appearances and scored three goals, showing that he could adapt to a new conference and a more demanding schedule. While still in college, he also gained semi-professional experience, spending a season in the National Premier Soccer League with AFC Ann Arbor in 2018 and a season in USL League Two with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions in 2019.
Azaad Liadi Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Liadi’s earliest senior appearances came in the amateur and semi-professional ranks. His 2018 stint with AFC Ann Arbor in the NPSL gave him a first taste of senior-level competition, while his 2019 season with the Cincinnati Dutch Lions in USL League Two introduced him to a league closely tied to the professional pathway.
In March 2020, Liadi signed his first professional contract with FC Tucson of USL League One. His competitive debut for the club came on July 25, 2020, against Fort Lauderdale CF. The abbreviated 2020 season, shaped by the broader disruptions of that year, gave Liadi an opportunity to break into the professional game and show that he belonged at that level.
South Georgia Tormenta and D.C. United (2021–2022)
On December 17, 2020, Liadi made the move to South Georgia Tormenta ahead of the 2021 USL League One season. The transfer represented a step up in visibility within the league and allowed him to take on a larger role with a club aiming to compete in the upper half of the standings.
In January 2022, Liadi signed with USL Championship side Loudoun United, the affiliate of Major League Soccer’s D.C. United. Shortly afterward, on February 26, 2022, he joined D.C. United on a four-day emergency loan, giving him a brief exposure to the top flight of American soccer. The short-term move was a clear sign of the trust placed in him by the D.C. United organization.
Lexington SC and Portland Hearts of Pine (2024–2025)
Liadi signed with USL League One club Lexington SC on January 19, 2024, beginning a new chapter of his career. He featured regularly for Lexington across the 2024 season as the club continued to establish itself in the league.
On March 15, 2025, Liadi went on loan to USL League One expansion side Portland Hearts of Pine. He made an immediate impact, scoring both goals in a 4–0 win over CD Faialense in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup, which was also Portland’s first-ever competitive match. The brace served as a strong introduction to the club and its supporters.
Greenville Triumph Era (2026–Present)
Following the conclusion of his loan to Portland, Liadi was not retained by Lexington SC. On February 4, 2026, he signed with Greenville Triumph in USL League One, joining another established club in the division.
The move to Greenville positioned Liadi with a team known for competing at the top of USL League One. The signing marked yet another fresh start in a career that has already taken him across multiple states and competitions, and it offers a new platform as he looks to build momentum in the years ahead.
Driving Style and Strengths
Liadi is listed as a winger, a role that emphasizes pace, width, and the ability to deliver into the box. His 1.85-meter frame gives him a physical presence uncommon for wide attackers, and his college scoring record reflects a comfort arriving in scoring positions rather than only creating for others. His path through multiple clubs has also shown a willingness to adapt to different tactical systems and team structures.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Liadi’s career came on his Portland Hearts of Pine debut, when he scored a brace in a 4–0 U.S. Open Cup victory over CD Faialense, a match that doubled as Portland’s first-ever competitive fixture. His four-day emergency loan to D.C. United in 2022 also stands out as a milestone, briefly placing him inside a Major League Soccer organization.
Azaad Liadi Career Wins
Liadi has built a steady professional résumé in the U.S. lower divisions, with goal contributions at both the college and professional levels. His most celebrated performance to date is his two-goal debut for Portland Hearts of Pine in the 2025 U.S. Open Cup.
USL League One Highlights
In USL League One, Liadi has played for FC Tucson, South Georgia Tormenta, Lexington SC, Portland Hearts of Pine (on loan), and Greenville Triumph. He opened his Portland account with a brace in the U.S. Open Cup and has continued to feature regularly in league play for each of his clubs.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond league play, Liadi has gained experience in the U.S. Open Cup, USL Championship (with Loudoun United), and in the developmental pathway of a Major League Soccer club during his brief D.C. United loan. His college totals of 14 goals across Saginaw Valley State and Georgia Southern underline a consistent scoring record throughout his career.
Azaad Liadi Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Azaad Liadi’s family background is limited, and no verified details about his parents or any broader family connection to professional sports have been reported.
Personal Life
Liadi was born and raised in Sterling Heights, Michigan. He is not publicly known to be married, and no information about a spouse or children has been confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Liadi began 2025 with Lexington SC before heading out on loan to expansion side Portland Hearts of Pine in March. His early contribution was immediate and memorable, as he scored twice in his first appearance to help Portland win its inaugural competitive match in the U.S. Open Cup.
That debut performance set the tone for his time in Portland and offered a strong storyline heading into the rest of the USL League One campaign. With Portland competing as a new club, Liadi’s role as an experienced winger capable of producing key goals looked like a major asset for the team.
After the conclusion of his loan, Liadi was not retained by Lexington. His subsequent move to Greenville Triumph, announced in early 2026, points toward a continued presence in USL League One and another opportunity to compete for a championship-caliber organization.