USMNT captain Tyler Adams joins English Premier club

Tyler Adams is back in the English top flight.

After a protracted transfer saga, the U.S. Men’s National Team captain has joined AFC Bournemouth on a five-year deal after the club reportedly triggered his $25.5 million release clause from Leeds United.

Adams, a native of Wappingers Falls, N.Y., is the sixth-ever American to play for the club, which finished in 15th place last season. Bill Foley, the owner of the Vegas Golden Knights, bought Bournemouth last year.

“We’re thrilled to have brought Tyler to the club and he is a player we’ve admired for a long time,” Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said in a statement. “It’s been widely documented how much his talents have been recognized in this transfer window by other clubs, so to have him sign for AFC Bournemouth shows the ambition we have as a club.”

It looked as though Adams would be joining Chelsea, even reportedly traveling to London to finalize a move, but the club instead brought in Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in midfield. 

He is not expected to play for Bournemouth until after next month’s international break, as he underwent surgery to deal with a hamstring injury at the end of March.

In 24 Premier League games for Leeds United last season, Adams did not record a goal or assist, though that is not his calling card in a primarily defensive midfield role. 

At 24 years old, he is well-regarded in Europe, having played in the German Bundesliga and Champions League with Red Bull-Leipzig before moving to England last year.

After being relegated, Leeds have sold nine players in order to stave off financial losses.

Getting back to a Premier League club is an important step for Adams, even one that will be fighting for survival, as Bournemouth figures to be.

Adams played every minute for the USMNT in the 2022 World Cup, which ended in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands, and figures to be a major figure in the national team going into 2026.