UPDATE 8/11: Multiple reports have indicated that Leeds’ deal with Chelsea for Adams is off due to the clubs being unable to come to a final agreement.
It’s somewhat of a full-circle moment for Tyler Adams as he embarks on a new journey with Premier League club Chelsea — Boardroom breaks down the terms.
On July 23, 2015, in Harrison, New Jersey, a relatively unknown 16-year-old academy talent named Tyler Adams scored the second goal in the New York Red Bulls’ 4-2 upset shocker over Premier League powerhouse Chelsea. Eight years later, the U.S. Men’s National Team World Cup captain joins the Blues on the eve of the 2023 regular season in a £20 million transfer deal from Leeds.
Adams had a $20 million relegation release clause in his contract, which Chelsea was able to trigger after Leeds was sent down to the English Championship in May. The defensive midfielder needs to bring a stabilizing element to a club that went through three different managers and finished a shocking 12th in the Premier League table last season, Chelsea’s worst domestic showing since the 1993-1994 campaign.
Before spending last year with Leeds, the Wappingers Falls, NY native spent four seasons in Germany with RB Leipzig, famously scoring a 2020 Champions League goal against Atletico Madrid that sent the upstart outfit to the semifinals. But Chelsea gets far more than Adams’s ability to score the occasional timely tally. The Blues get his ability to defend and maintain possession, his tenacity, leadership, toughness, and the experience to go toe to toe with the world’s best and more than hold his own.
Tyler Adams Chelsea Transfer Details
Deal agreed on: Aug. 10, 2023
Reported transfer fee: £20,000,000 ($25,500,000)
Estimated transfer market value: €18,000,000 via Transfermarkt
Tyler Adams Stats Per 90 Minutes
| Category | Stat Per 90 | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Passes attempted | 57.02 | 70 |
| Tackles | 3.70 | 99 |
| Interceptions | 1.48 | 84 |
| Blocks | 2.05 | 97 |
| Aerials won | 1.09 | 66 |
Stats provided by Football Reference. Tracks performance compared to attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s five most significant domestic leagues and European competition over the past year.
Adams’ Transfer History
August 2023: Leeds United (England – Championship) to Chelsea (England – Premier League)
- Transfer Fee: £20,000,000
July 2022: RB Leipzig (Germany – Bundesliga) to Leeds United (England – Premier League)
- Transfer Fee: €17,000,000
January 2019: New York Red Bulls (U.S. – MLS) to RB Leipzig (Germany – Bundesliga)
- Transfer Fee: €2,630,000
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