AFC Bournemouth lost a key piece in its midfield this summer from Jefferson Lerma making the move to Crystal Palace, but filled the gap in a key way on Sunday.
Tyler Adams became the sixth American to sign for the club in Bournemouth’s history after making a permanent move from Leeds United. The 24-year-old had a £20 million release clause triggered following Leeds’ relegation from the English Premier League.
Adams was previously linked with a move to Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Brighton & Hove Albion, but now finds himself on the South Coast with a huge opportunity to play regularly.
Bournemouth had already made several key acquisitions this summer totaling over €100 million spent on players such as Hamed Junior Traore, Alex Scott, Max Aarons, and Romain Faivre. Adams joins Andoni Iraola’s midfield with the Cherries seeking to avoid any relegation fight this season.
Although the bright lights of Stamford Bridge would’ve been appealing to Adams, a move to the Vitality Stadium might be more important for him. Lerma’s departure this summer opens the door for Adams to fill the void left by the Colombian midfield, providing the same aggressiveness and intensity that Lerma did in the Premier League and EFL Championship.
Not only would Adams have a strong opportunity to earn consistent minutes, but Bournemouth would provide the platform for him to get back to his best. The South Coast club’s ownership also features several Americans in its ranks including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan and businessman Bill Foley.
After missing several months through injury, Adams needs to get back playing in order to prepare himself for the latest cycle with the USMNT. Although the Americans have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Adams is one of the key leaders in the squad and will want to start preparing for a historic tournament on home soil.
Adams’ arrival is a win-win for both parties this season, giving Bournemouth a player who will bring a great work ethic to a growing squad of players.
They wanted Caicedo all along, Adams was a cheap hedge bet. Like standing up to walk away from the negotiating table at a car dealership- it also helped add pressure/leverage in negotiations for Caicedo.
Adams is MUCH much better off as a starter at an improved Bournemouth than a pawn at Chelsea. I’d have rather seen him stay, fight, play at tumultuous Leeds than suffer the fate of irrelevant cheerleader on Chelsea’s bench.
If Caicedo had gone to Liverpool I think Adams had a chance to start next to Enzo. I think he could have beaten out Lavia in the short term even if Romeo has a much higher ceiling. Once Caicedo chose Chelsea I doubt Tyler was that interested in the project anymore anyway.
I suspect Enzo would absolutely love pairing w/ a capable defense first partner in the midfield to do the dirty work, cover his back and give him free rein to bomb forward, do his thing. Doesn’t have to be world class, but if Tyler could clean up his ball carrying, bring his distribution up a smidge he’d be much more in the conversation with top 4 teams (aspirational, soon to be top 4 w/ Poch at Chelsea). At that level you really have to be a total package. Right now, Adams is a very good old school destroyer. Although he’d certainly value that and find a role for him, I don’t see Pochetino being satisfied with that type player as his full time starter. He’s probably a better fit at Liverpool, but not a sniff from them. I’d really love, hope to see Adams prove that perception completely wrong. He’s now got an opportunity to do just that in the PL with Bourmouth. Perfect I say.
Saw some reports that Chelsea didn’t like the results of their tests of his hamstring and that’s what canceled the deal. I don’t know if that is really the truth or not Caicedo had been their first choice all summer. Maybe the would have brought in the cheaper Adams over Lavia as the 3rd DM. Bournemouth spent some money this season but like Leeds last yea largely on young unproven players or mid 20s guys that haven’t hit their expectations yet. Iraola seems to be promising young manager so who knows I guess.
first off, you realize adams PASSED the medical, no?
second, the articles seem to say this is an issue of return timing rather than injury permanence. is it weeks or a couple months. but DUH he was already not in leeds’ camp. it was never going to be “in camp tomorrow.” be real dude.
as such reading between the lines CFC acted like they wanted a hurt player — remembering your argument he had no market in this state — then suddenly backed off “because he’s hurt.” this promotes a cynical response on my part where maybe they wanted an excuse to get out of a likely agreed verbal deal, as they played footsie with caicedo i think they wanted more. so you’re all but signed with adams, then caicedo seems more available and suddenly you beef he’s out longer than the most optimistic return timetable. but the whole time you were trying to sign a guy with a hamstring. sorry, buzz, feels a little theatrical. CFC falls, grabs his hammy, looks and see if the ref calls a foul.
meh.
About a month ago Farke said it would be after the international break if not later. The next day Tyler posted a video of him running on his own saying “back soon”. As I said in my comment Chelsea always wanted Caicedo and Lavia so Farke’s timeline of late September gave them an excuse. I made my comment about maybe having to wait until January before we knew he was back running. He was three months behind the original return date and not yet training on grass. The next day after seeing him run I said he’ll probably be fine to move.
IV,
What happened with Chelsea, Adams and Caicedo seems pretty straight forward considering that none of us really knows what happened.
Reading between the lines is about as accurate as reading tea leaves or sheep entrails.
“they wanted an excuse to get out of a likely agreed verbal deal, as they played footsie with caicedo i think they wanted more. so you’re all but signed with adams, then caicedo seems more available and suddenly you beef he’s out longer than the most optimistic return timetable.”
In the end Chelsea wanted Caicedo more than they wanted Adams.
This is a business deal.
This is not high school.
No one needs excuses.
Nothing is final until it’s final.
These negotiations are the proverbial sausage making factory.
If you don’t like the process don’t watch.
i think bournemouth would be a much better landing spot than CFC and some of the other rumors. incrementally better team than leeds last year which appears to play a double-6 formation and has 2 fairly no-name occupants of those slots, only 1 of whom he has to beat out to start.
Liverpool need a 6! Adams must not measure up(talent&height). Waste of talent playing Mac Allister at defensive mid. Adams must be evaluated as just a mid to lower end EPL player?
he would be a system fit because klopp loves 433 and pressing but the question is does he fit in but watch.
“Not only would Adams have a strong opportunity to earn consistent minutes, but Bournemouth could also provide the platform for him to get back to his best. The South Coast club’s ownership also features several Americans in its ranks including Hollywood actor Michael B. Jordan and businessman Bill Foley.”
I can see how Stan Kroenke, American Owner of Arsenal and Todd Boehly, American owner of Chelsea really helped out Matt Turner and Christian Pulisic respectively when they were there.
Just like Swansea’s American owners helped out Bob Bradley when he was there.
to be fair on swansea there was a general pitchfork brigade out for the owners and coach just the same. part of what bradley was getting stick for was the perception of an american owner forcing an american coach on them. it was an interesting response as up until shortly before that they had been this very progressive “looking” team that played attractive attacking soccer and hired continental coaches. also bears reminding bradley was hired in october, which meant he was handed a dog of a team that had fired its coach, after the window was closed to fix it. perfect bad storm for having resistant fans and players you didn’t sign battling you the whole way. but he helped break spades on coaching there. and they were relegated the season afterwards. so, pffftt on them.
you can have fun with this but let’s be real, (a) boehly just took over and (b) in recent times how have americans faired under non-american EPL ownership? being a backup or (leeds) relegated regular is better than the list of loan players or pine riders. i like richards but he probably sees the field less than even a backup keeper.
IV
Bob should have known better than to take the job. He knew damn well how tough it was going to be and if he trusted the American owners promises to support him , then he was a fool.
He had a nice gig with American owned Le Havre in Lige 2 with a good chance that they were going up in the near future.
Instead he went for the glamor , which is completely understandable if entirely uncharacteristic
He then went on the give himself plenty of rope to hang himself with and made it impossible to NOT fire him.
The whole thing was just a huge brain fart by all involved and everyone came out of it with their panties stained and looking like cretins..
“you can have fun with this but let’s be real, (a) boehly just took over and (b) in recent times how have americans faired under non-american EPL ownership? ”
American players recent ventures into the EPL have not gone well, regardless of the ownership.
The EPL is about as deep in excellent talent. from all over the world as I have ever seen it.
Based on his very best performances with Leeds, Tyler is okay.
Just okay. The money offered for him along with the number of offers tells you that.
Brenden was a disaster and Weston not far behind.
Turner could not beat out Ramsdale but may yet stick with Forest, Ethan couldn’t even get in the door, Or rather he did but then they threw him out.
Richards is glued to the bench, and our best two are Timmy, who has the advantage of being an established vet and Antonee, who is not a product of the American system and , like Timmy, has had time to work his way through the system.
The jury is still out on Flo another player who is not a product of the American system.
There are a lot of excuses, some valid, some not, for why Americans aren’t doing better in the EPL but they are just that. excuses, mostly flaccid.
Our guys, as good as they are, do better in Germany and Italy because the overall talent level there is lower and competition for places is not as tough..
Our guys have the ability and talent to play and do well for EPL clubs.
But right now, clubs have other options, plenty of them , often cheaper and are choosing to use them.