Leeds United receive millions to avoid fresh legal drama over Tyler Adams – Phil Hay
Leeds United received millions more than expected from Bournemouth for Tyler Adams this summer as both clubs aimed to avoid a “legal argument”, according to the Athletic.
Phil Hay reported on the publication’s website on Sunday (20 August) that the Cherries paid an extra £3million than the release clause in Adam’s Leeds’ contract to avoid any potential legal dispute over the player’s signing.
The USMNT captain was one of many players to have a relegation release clause in his Elland Road contract, but the details of it were expected to be private and confidential meaning that Bournemouth should never have known what price would see them secure Adams’ services.
Discussing the precarious transfer saga, Hay wrote: “The Yorkshire club maintain that Adams clause was never properly triggered — and the fee they are receiving is more than the clause value; £23m which includes add-ons in the region of £1.5m.
“When it became clear that Adams was set on leaving, Leeds realised it would be pointless fighting to keep him. There was a risk of legal argument and in the circumstances, so late in the window, a protracted dispute suited nobody. sources on both sides have indicated that shaking hands on a slightly increased fee was the only way of bringing the saga to a relatively swift conclusion.”
Best of a bad situation
Leeds didn’t want to lose Adams this summer as they saw him as an incredibly valuable asset to have at their disposal in the Championship as they look to make a swift return to the Premier League under Daniel Farke.
Therefore any sale was going to sting the Whites and they immediately had their backs against the wall when news of the release clause in his contract broke earlier this summer, with Chelsea, Aston Villa and Bournemouth just a few of the clubs interested in signing the midfielder.
With Adams so keen on a move away from Elland Road this summer, it was always going to be a case of Leeds aiming to get as much money as they possibly could if they were to lose him and to have managed to secure a fee with a few extra million pounds is good business.
The abruptness of the club’s official statement surrounding Adams’ sale suggests those in charge at Elland Road aren’t particularly happy with how the transfer has been handled this summer, but at least they have £23m to soften the blow and strengthen their side.
After all, Farke has made it clear he only wants players at the club who are committed.
In other Leeds United news, Farke has earmarked exactly what he needs before the transfer window closes