Leeds United midfielder Tyler Adams is nearing a move to Premier League side Bournemouth, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reporting that a medical has been booked for the US international.
Adams joined Leeds for an approximate £20m fee from Red Bull Leipzig last summer, as the Whites sought to strengthen a midfield weakened by the departure of club stalwart Kalvin Phillips to Manchester City.
The 24-year-old’s combative style quickly endeared himself to the Elland Road faithful, with Adams becoming a mainstay of then-head coach Jesse Marsch’s starting XI. His hamstring injury in mid-March – which saw him sidelined for the rest of the season – was arguably a key factor in seeing Leeds drop to the Championship last term.
As was to be expected Adams was the source of a great deal of transfer speculation following his side’s relegation, with an approach by Chelsea recently falling through at the medical stage after the Blues opted to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from Southampton instead.
Following this, it was reported that Bournemouth had triggered a relegation release clause which would have allowed them to sign Adams for a £20m fee, yet whether this clause had expired by the time that Andoni Iraola’s side submitted their bid was a cause for debate.
Now, it appears as if the Cherries are going to acquire Adams’ services release clause or not, with Romano claiming on social media platform X that a medical has been booked in London for the USMNT captain – with a deal to be finalised in the coming 24 hours.
Tyler Adams to Bournemouth, here we go soon! Medical booked in London later today — after agreement reached with Leeds United 🚨🔴🍒 #AFCB
Deal to be finalised in the next 24h as Adams has accepted conditions of the agreement.
Contract signing scheduled after medical 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Si7d4ZrRxL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 18, 2023
To see Adams leave will no doubt come as a disappointment to Leeds’ owners 49ers Enterprises, who repeatedly stated their desire to keep hold of the American’s services.
What the midfielder’s departure will do, however, is provide the Whites with some much needed leeway with financial fair play (FFP) rules – limitations which have reduced the amount Leeds could spend this summer given that most of their exits have been season-long loan deals, rather than permanent sales with a fee attached.
New signing Ethan Ampadu – who joined Leeds for an initial £7m fee this summer – has been deployed in the defensive midfield position previously occupied by Adams and has impressed in the role so far.
Leeds host West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road this evening, with the Whites seeking their first league victory of the season.
