Tyler Adams threatened legal action against Leeds United to force his way into a £23 million deal to Bournemouth, although he has yet to play a league game this season.
There was a lot of talk about how Leeds’ first-team players tried to leave in the summer window after being one of the main causes for relegation.
Two players have moved to Bournemouth, however not both are permanent, after Luis Sinisterra signed a long-term contract.
Tyler Adams moved from Leeds to Bournemouth for £23 million.
When the first Championship game came along in early August, Tyler Adams appeared to be still devoted to the cause at Elland Road.
He was on the pitch at full time with other injured players, sharing some of his midfield expertise with Archie Gray, who had made an impressive senior debut for Leeds.
Not long after, the USMNT player signed for Bournemouth for £23 million, after his hamstring issues derailed a medical with Chelsea.
Adams, like the Colombian who shortly joined Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth team, threatened Leeds with legal action in order to secure another Premier League move.
Adams hasn’t played a single league game despite having £17 million in the bank.
Leeds did an excellent job of replacing Adams directly, getting Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea on a long-term deal for just £7 million – a signing that appeared to be a bargain on paper but is looking increasingly like an outrageous steal every time he plays.
With £17 million spare, Leeds will be unconcerned that they cashed in on Adams mainly against their will, especially given his subsequent success on the South Coast.
Chelsea were correct to avoid the midfielder this season, as Adams’ injury problems did not appear to improve until the autumn, when he came off the bench against Stoke City in the EFL Cup.
However, he was quickly sidelined with more hamstring ailments, which have kept him out since, meaning he has yet to make his league debut in Cherries colours.
Meanwhile, Ampadu has done Adams’ job and much more, proving to be just as excellent a midfield destroyer while demonstrating grace in possession, and has recently developed into an imperious centre-back for good measure.
Adams may perform well at Bournemouth, but the £23 million Leeds paid for him in the summer was likely the best they could have hoped for, rather than keeping a crocked midfielder and thus preventing someone of Ampadu’s quality from shining – and that’s before even considering how good Ilia Gruev has been.
