USMNT supporters and most importantly Tyler Adams have dodged a bullet.
The $25M relegation release clause was activated. The medical was completed. With Tyler Adams waiting to sign the paperwork in London, Chelsea has backed out of the deal for the USMNT midfielder.
I previously mentioned Adams would be a squad player with the Blues pursuing fellow defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo. It turns out he wouldn’t even get in the building. With Chelsea embroiled in a transfer battle for the $110M rated Ecuadorian, Adams has been deemed as unnecessary. With that, Chelsea left Adams standing at the altar. He will now travel back to Leeds as his future remains unclear with the Championship club.
This development, while disappointing for the player who clearly wanted the move may be a blessing in disguise. Adams was never a priority but a stopgap and depth piece for Chelsea. He was never going to be a locked-in starter for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, especially with their eyes constantly wandering. If it wasn’t Caicedo this summer and Adams arrived, in a year’s time we would be talking about what other clubs are interested in bringing him in.
With Chelsea out of the picture, the door is back open for a club that would feature Adams. His brief spell with Leeds in the Premier League proved he was more than capable of handling the division.
While whatever club comes in won’t be as prestigious as Chelsea, they will give the USMNT captain the playing time he deserves.