Toronto FC star Maurice Edu Named New Face of FIFA Soccer 09

August 5, 2008

TORONTO FC STAR MAURICE EDU NAMED THE NEW FACE
OF EA SPORTS FIFA SOCCER 09

Edu To Become First MLS Player Created as
Customized Mii™

Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that Toronto
FC star Maurice Edu is taking his game to the cover of the world’s most popular
soccer videogame* where he will join Brazilian International Ronaldinho and
Mexican national team goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa as cover athletes and
spokespersons for EA SPORTS™ FIFA Soccer 09 in the United States, Canada and
other regions in North America.

Edu will also become the first and only Major
League Soccer player to appear as a customized Mii™ character exclusively for
the Wii™ home video game system in FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play. EA SPORTS has
created a unique version of Edu and his character will be playable alongside
some of the world’s biggest soccer stars, including Ronaldinho, Wayne Rooney,
Franck Ribéry and others— all created as special Mii characters exclusively for
FIFA Soccer 09 All-Play.

“I got a kick out of my Mii because it looks like
he has a lot of fun on the pitch and he’s capable of pulling off some wild
moves,” said Edu. “It’s fun to take control of my character and blast outrageous
shots on goal with a flick of the wrist. I’ve never played soccer like this
before.”


FIFA Soccer 09 PlayStation 3 screenshots

One of the rising stars of MLS and the U.S. Men’s
National Team, Edu is in his second season with Toronto FC after being selected
first overall in the 2007 MLS Superdraft and then being named MLS Rookie of the
Year. Edu has earned caps with the US National Team and is currently training
with the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team in Beijing. The 22-year-old
midfielder was born and raised in Fontana, California, and prior to joining
Toronto FC, played three seasons at the University of Maryland, winning the NCAA
National Championship in 2005.

Earlier this month Edu participated in a body
motion capture session with the EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 09 videogame development
team at EA Canada in Burnaby, British Columbia. During the session Edu’s body
movements, individual moves and playing style were captured and digitized, and
will become the life-like movement of his virtual self in FIFA Soccer 09 and
future versions of the game.

Guillermo Ochoa, the popular goalkeeper for the
Mexican national team and Club America of the Mexican Primera Division, is
appearing on the game’s cover for the second straight year. Ronaldinho, one of
the most talented and recognizable athletes in the world who now plays for AC
Milan, is appearing on the cover in North America for the fourth consecutive
year.

This year EA SPORTS is changing the way sports
games are played online by becoming the first sports videogame to enable up to
20 individuals playing fixed positions to play a single game of FIFA Soccer 09
at the same time. Instead of thinking as an individual player now you have to
think and play as a team in Be A Pro: 10 vs. 10 Online Team Play for the
PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360™ video game and
entertainment system.

To learn more about FIFA Soccer 09 visit
www.FIFA09.ea.com/us.

Developed in Burnaby, B.C., by EA Canada, FIFA
Soccer 09 is localized in 18 languages and sold in 37 countries –- it is the
most popular franchise globally for EA SPORTS. FIFA Soccer 09 will be available
for the PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360™, Wii™, PC, PlayStation®2, Nintendo DS™, PSP®
and mobile. It is rated “E” for everyone by ESRB and it has not yet been rated
by PEGI.

* Based on total franchise sales in 2007
according to the NPD Group, Inc.