D.C. United has reached a contract agreement with Ghanaian midfielder Nana Kwame Kuffour, sources close to the negotiations said last night.

Kuffour, 18, was offered a one-year deal with three option years. Financial terms were not revealed. He is expected to sign the developmental contract today.

Kuffour's adviser, Theo Botchway of Burtonsville, said he couldn't comment.

United spokesman Doug Hicks said, "Nana continues to be on tryout with United, but we have no formal relationship to announce at this time."

Kuffour, a central midfielder who has played for Ghana's youth national teams, has been practicing with United for several weeks. He scored a goal in a 2-0 victory over the University of Maryland in a scrimmage at RFK Stadium's auxiliary field on Tuesday.

Kuffour's application for a work permit has been submitted by MLS and, if approved, he would be eligible to play in about two weeks.

Kuffour will become United's second Ghanaian-born player, joining 14-year-old forward Freddy Adu. (Adu has lived in the United States since he was 8.) Besides English, both speak the same Ghanaian dialect.