Che Adams

Che Adams
Adams with Birmingham City in 2016
Personal information
Full name Che Zach Everton Fred Adams[1]
Date of birth (1996-07-13) 13 July 1996[1]
Place of birth Leicester, England
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Playing position Forward, Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Birmingham City
Number 9
Youth career
0000–2003 Highfield Rangers
2003–2010 Coventry City
2010–2012 St Andrews
2012 Oadby Town
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Oadby Town 33 (5)
2013–2014 Ilkeston (9)
2014–2016 Sheffield United 47 (11)
2016– Birmingham City 82 (15)
National team
2015 England U20 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 08:56, 7 October 2018 (UTC)

Che Zach Everton Fred Adams (born 13 July 1996) is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward or a midfielder for Championship club Birmingham City. He began his senior career in non-league football with Oadby Town and Ilkeston before moving into the Football League with Sheffield United in late 2014. He made 47 League One appearances before signing for Birmingham in August 2016. He represented England at under-20 level in 2015.

Club career

Early career

Adams was born in Leicester,[1] where he played football as a youngster for Highfield Rangers. He joined Coventry City's youth academy as a seven-year-old, and was released at fourteen.[3] He then played youth football for Leicester club St Andrews[4] before joining Oadby Town in 2012. Initially playing for their youth team, Adams soon moved into the first team;[5] over the 2012–13 season, the sixteen-year-old made 33 appearances for Oadby in the United Counties League, of which 27 were in the starting eleven, and scored 5 goals.[6]

Adams took up a scholarship with Ilkeston's academy,[7] and helped their team win their section of the Football Conference Youth Alliance and reach the second round proper of the 2013–14 FA Youth Cup.[8] He also found himself playing first-team football in the Northern Premier League. Making his debut on 13 October as a very late substitute in a 3–2 win away to Stocksbridge Park Steels,[8][9] Adams made his first league start in November,[8] was sent off for elbowing an opponent on Boxing Day,[10] scored his first senior goal for the club to complete a 3–1 win away to Ashton United on 5 April – he "picked up a loose ball and made a fine run through midfield and provided a left foot finish despite [the goalkeeper's] best effort to make the block"[11] – and finished his season with the Derbyshire Senior Cup final, in which he was fouled for the penalty kick that made sure of Ilkeston's victory.[12]

After Adams began 2014–15 in spectacular fashion – introduced after 64 minutes of the second match of the season, "his pace, power and energy scar[ed] the life out of Stourbridge for the remainder of the game" as he provided two assists and was fouled for a penalty,[13] before scoring twice in the next match, against Trafford[14] – Ilkeston signed him to a one-year contract.[15][16] He continued in similar vein: away to Stamford, Ilkeston's first and third goals were scored on the rebound when Adams' shots were parried, he was fouled for the free kick that led to the second, and "picked the ball up 35 yards out, beat a defender with ease and slid the ball home" to complete a 4–0 win;[17] against Ashton United and FC United of Manchester, he used strength and pace to take the ball from his own half to score;[18] and by the end of October, when 45 scouts were reported to be watching him score his ninth goal of the season to add to eleven assists,[19][20] Ilkeston's chairman was resigned to his departure.[16]

Sheffield United

On 14 November 2014, Sheffield United of League One beat off competition from clubs in higher divisions to sign Adams on a two-year deal. The fee was officially undisclosed,[21][22] but the Sheffield Star reported it as a six-figure deal,[19] and the Ilkeston club confirmed "a substantial up-front payment in non-league terms – plus a percentage of any sell-on fee."[23] Adams made his professional senior debut on 16 December in a 1–0 home victory over Southampton, replacing Jamal Campbell-Ryce at half time as United made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup.[24] Four days later he made both his first career start and his first Football League appearance, in a 1–1 draw with Walsall at Bramall Lane.[25]

In the League Cup semi-final second leg against Tottenham Hotspur on 28 January 2015 at Bramall Lane, Adams replaced Campbell-Ryce after 74 minutes. Five minutes later he had scored his first goals for Sheffield United with two goals in just over two minutes, which would have taken the game to extra time had Christian Eriksen not scored for Tottenham Hotspur in the 88th minute to win 3–2 on aggregate.[26]

Adams made ten appearances as Sheffield United finished the season in the League One play-off places. In the play-off semi-final second leg away to Swindon Town on 11 May, he replaced Ryan Flynn for the final five minutes and scored an equaliser for a 5–5 draw, but his team lost 7–6 on aggregate.[27]

Adams scored for the first time in the league on 15 August 2015, with both goals in a 2–0 at home to Chesterfield which was Sheffield United's first win of the season,.[28] Ten days later, he signed a new three-year deal at United with the option of an extra year.[29] On 10 October, Adams scored twice in the first half of a 3–2 win over Rochdale,[30] and ten days later he got another brace to defeat Fleetwood Town 3–0, opening the scoring after 54 seconds.[31] He was given a straight red card on 5 December in the second round of the FA Cup, for a foul on Liam Kelly in a 1–0 win at Oldham Athletic.[32] Adams established himself as a regular in the team, partnering striker Billy Sharp,[33] but in March 2016 was dropped to the bench by manager Nigel Adkins for not working hard in training.[34] He soon returned,[35] finished the season with 12 goals from 41 appearances in all competitions, 11 from 36 in League One,[30] and was named by the Sheffield Star as its Young Player of the Year.[36]

Birmingham City

Adams (right, wearing red) playing for Birmingham City in 2016

Amid considerable transfer speculation, Adams played in Sheffield United's opening fixture of the 2016–17 season, but a bid was accepted from Championship club Birmingham City shortly afterwards,[37] and he signed a three-year contract with the club on 8 August 2016. The fee was undisclosed,[38] although the Sheffield Star reported it to be around £2 million, and that United had turned down deals valued at £1.2M and £1.7M.[39] Publicity surrounding the deal caused problems for the Ilkeston club: creditors believing that Ilkeston would benefit by an estimated £300,000 called in their debts, and when no payment was immediately forthcoming, the Northern Premier League suspended the club until the debts were settled, causing the postponement of their first four league fixtures.[40]

Adams made his Birmingham debut on 16 August, as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw away to Wigan Athletic.[41] He started the next match, at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers four days later, and opened the scoring with a low angled shot across the goalkeeper; he played 61 minutes, by which time manager Gary Rowett thought he "looked like he had run out of steam", as Birmingham went on to lose 3–1.[42] He played regularly through the first half of the season, though often as an impact substitute, and scored twice more, both times having come off the bench: to earn a draw against Preston North End in September, and a determined late winner against Bristol City in November.[43][44] He returned to the starting eleven for a 4–0 defeat away at Newcastle United in December, in which his hesitancy in a defensive situation led to the second goal,[45] but was back on the bench for the next fixture, after which Rowett was sacked. The Birmingham Mail suggested that the owners were "disgruntled" that several of Rowett's purchases, Adams included, were not regularly starting matches.[46]

Adams scored his first goal for three months in a losing cause away to Preston in mid-February,[47] and was influential as Birmingham beat Wolves a few days later.[48] Gianfranco Zola, Rowett's successor, had recognised the player's potential from the start, but was unsure of his best position.[49] As results failed to improve, Zola experimented with formations and personnel: he alternated Adams and Lukas Jutkiewicz as lone striker, and once Clayton Donaldson returned to fitness, there was a short spell when Adams was not used at all. He started the visit to Brighton & Hove Albion, playing just behind Donaldson, and scored a goal that both he and the Mail hoped would keep him in the team.[50]

With three matches left in the season, and relegation increasingly likely, Zola quit, to be replaced by Harry Redknapp. In the penultimate match, at home to Huddersfield Town, Adams was fouled for a penalty that Jutkiewicz missed, and was then sent off after 23 minutes for a two-footed tackle.[51] Birmingham still won, and the red card was rescinded on appeal, making him available for the final fixture, away to Bristol City, which Birmingham had to win to be sure of staying up.[52] After 16 minutes, Jutkiewicz played Adams through; he held off the defence and placed a low shot past the goalkeeper for the only goal of the game.[53] He appeared in 40 of a possible 44 league matches and scored 7 goals, some way short of the target of 15 that he had set himself, but his contribution over the campaign – he also made three assists and won "nearly twice as many" penalties[54] – earned him the club's Young Player of the Season award.[55][56]

Considerable transfer speculation surrounded Adams during the summer window.[57] It was reported that Derby County, managed by Gary Rowett, had a £3M offer rejected and that the club turned down bids from Fulham first of £5M and then, on deadline day, of £10M.[58] In September, he signed a five-year contract on improved terms.[54] On the field, Adams began the 2017–18 season with his first senior hat-trick, against Crawley Town in the EFL Cup.[59] In his next match, he injured a hamstring, and in his second match back, a month later, he damaged his other hamstring.[54][60] He returned to the team to give Steve Cotterill a winning start as Birmingham manager at home to league-leaders Cardiff City on 13 October. According to BBC Sport's reporter, he won the ball from a goalkeeping clearance and "opted to take on the visiting defence single-handed. He put his head down and ran, slicing his way past four men in red before cutting inside to drill a low, curled right-foot shot which nutmegged Morrison before finding the right corner."[61]

International career

Adams, whose father is from Antigua, was invited to join the Antigua and Barbuda squad for Caribbean Cup qualifiers in October 2014, but decided against accepting the invitation.[62] He was then called up to the England C squad – the team that represents the country at semi-professional level[63] – but he signed for Sheffield United before the 18 November fixture and thus became ineligible. He was called up to the England U20 squad for two matches against the Czech Republic in early September 2015.[64] He made his debut on 5 September in a 5–0 win at St George's Park, replacing Tyler Walker for the final 17 minutes,[65] and started the second match, a 1–0 defeat.[66]

Style of play

Manager Kevin Wilson of Adams' former club Ilkeston described Adams as having "pace in abundance, but he's really powerful too" and said that "his biggest asset is that knack of changing games in the blink of an eye".[20]

Career statistics

As of match played 6 October 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Division Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sheffield United 2014–15[67] League One 10000221[lower-alpha 1]1133
2015–16[30] League One 361120201[lower-alpha 1]14112
2016–17[41] League One 10———10
Total 47112042225515
Birmingham City 2016–17[41] Championship 4072000—427
2017–18[68] Championship3052113—339
2018–19[69] Championship1230010—134
Total 82154123—8819
Career total 1292661652214334
  1. 1 2 Appearances in League One play-offs

Honours

Ilkeston

Individual

  • Sheffield Star Young Player of the Year: 2016–17[36]
  • Birmingham City F.C. Young Player of the Season: 2017–18[55]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Che Adams". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  2. ↑ "Che Adams". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 22 October 2017.
  3. ↑ McCartney, Aidan (20 February 2015). "The Coventry City Academy reject who could come back to haunt them on Saturday". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  4. ↑ "Under 15's: Che Adams". St Andrews F.C. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  5. ↑ Jones, Owen (15 November 2014). "Former Oadby youngster turns pro". Oadby Town F.C. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  6. ↑ For United Counties League and Knockout Cup: "ChromaSport United Counties League 2012/13 Oadby Town: Player season totals". fulltime-league.thefa.com. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
  7. ↑ Duffy, Mark (12 November 2014). "Interview: Che Adams – the Ilkeston star catching many an eye". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "2013/14". ilsonfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  9. ↑ "Home: 2014/15 pen pics". ilsonfootball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 21 February 2016. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  10. ↑ "Worksop Town FC vs Ilkeston FC". Worksop Town F.C. 26 December 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  11. ↑ Hobson, Steve (5 April 2014). "Ashton make life hard for expectant fans". Ashton United F.C. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  12. 1 2 Duffy, Mark (30 April 2014). "Report/slideshow – DSC Final: Ilkeston FC 2–0 Glossop NE". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  13. ↑ Duffy, Mark (19 August 2014). "Report/slideshow: Ilkeston FC 3–4 Stourbridge". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "2014/15". ilsonfootball.co.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "List of players under written contract registered between 01/08/2014 and 31/08/2014". The Football Association. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  16. 1 2 Thomson, Doug (13 November 2014). "Che Adams: Huddersfield Town linked with non-league star but Newcastle United, Norwich City and Sunderland said to be circling". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  17. ↑ Duffy, Mark (15 December 2015). "Video feature: Ilkeston FC's most memorable games". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  18. ↑ Duffy, Mark (28 January 2016). "Pick that out! Here's our top ten Ilkeston FC goals". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  19. 1 2 "Sheffield United beat off Premier League competition to sign Ilkeston starlet Che Adams". Sheffield Star. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  20. 1 2 "Sheffield United: A revolution of youth: The story of Che Adams' rise to the Blades, told by the man who knows him best". Sheffield Star. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  21. ↑ "Sheffield United: Che Adams joins Blades from Ilkeston". BBC Sport. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  22. ↑ "Blades land non-league star". Sheffield United F.C. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  23. ↑ "Blades clinch Adams deal". Ilkeston F.C. 14 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  24. ↑ Gibson, Richard (16 December 2014). "Sheffield United sink Southampton thanks to Marc McNulty's goal". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  25. ↑ "Sheff Utd 1–1 Walsall". BBC Sport. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  26. ↑ Rostance, Tom (28 January 2015). "Sheffield United 2–2 Tottenham Hotspur (agg 2–3)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
    Winter, Henry (28 January 2015). "Sheffield United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (2–3 on agg): Christian Eriksen double sends Spurs to Wembley". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  27. ↑ Hassan, Nabil (11 May 2015). "Swindon Town 5–5 Sheffield United (7–6 agg)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  28. ↑ "Sheffield United 2–0 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 15 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  29. ↑ "Che Adams: Sheffield United striker signs new contract". BBC Sport. 25 August 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 "Games played by Che Adams in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  31. ↑ "Sheffield United 3–0 Fleetwood Town". BBC Sport. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Oldham Athletic 1–0 Sheffield United". BBC Sport. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  33. ↑ Shield, James (11 March 2016). "Sheffield United: Young Che reveals Campbell-Ryce's key role". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
    Shield, James (4 April 2016). "Blades show what they're capable of: Sheffield United 2 Walsall 0 verdict and reaction". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  34. ↑ Shield, James (22 March 2016). "Sheffield United: 'I won't quit' says boss". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  35. ↑ Shield, James (25 March 2016). "Sheffield United: Adams offered olive branch". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  36. 1 2 "The Star Football Awards: The big winners on a glitzy night celebrating our teams". Sheffield Star. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  37. ↑ Shield, James (8 August 2016). "Sheffield United forward Che Adams set to sign for Birmingham City". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  38. ↑ "Official: Che Adams joins Blues". Birmingham City F.C. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  39. ↑ Shield, James (9 August 2016). "Sheffield United: Why the Blades agreed to let Che Adams join Birmingham City". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  40. ↑ Elliott, Sam (18 August 2016). "Ilkeston must pay creditors after Adams seals Blues move". The Non-League Paper. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
    "Breaking: Ilkeston FC have suspension lifted by Northern Premier League". Ilkeston Advertiser. 26 August 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
    Duffy, Mark (7 September 2016). "Ilkeston saga leaves a bitter taste – and reflects badly on the NPL". Ilkeston Advertiser. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  41. 1 2 3 "Games played by Che Adams in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  42. ↑ Dick, Brian (20 August 2016). "Birmingham City 1 Wolves 3: Che Adams debut goal counts for nothing in derby defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
    Dick, Brian (20 August 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett explains the thinking behind his substitutions". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  43. ↑ Dick, Brian (27 December 2016). "Birmingham City analysis: Blues need closure after difficult period; Adams deserves a chance; Gleeson proving a vital cog". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017. Just as he did under Gary Rowett, the former Sheffield United youngster came off the bench to really good effect.
  44. ↑ Dick, Brian (27 September 2016). "Birmingham City boss Gary Rowett explains what he told Che Adams". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
    "Birmingham 1–0 Bristol City: Che Adams seals win for Blues". skysports.com. PA Sport. 19 November 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  45. ↑ Dick, Brian (10 December 2016). "Newcastle United 4 Birmingham City 0". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  46. ↑ Dick, Brian (14 December 2016). "Birmingham City new manager Gianfranco Zola is a bold appointment by Trillion Trophy Asia". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  47. ↑ "Preston North End 2–1 Birmingham City". BBC Sport. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  48. ↑ Chapman, Joseph (26 February 2017). "Birmingham City: The three players crucial in the win over Wolves". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  49. ↑ Dick, Brian (31 December 2016). "Birmingham City: How Che Adams impressed Gianfranco Zola". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  50. ↑ Dick, Brian (23 March 2017). "Gianfranco Zola says this Birmingham City player's return is 'like a new signing'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
    Kendrick, Mat (5 April 2017). "Birmingham City's Che Adams: 'Hopefully this gets me on the team-sheet'". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
    Dick, Brian (5 April 2017). "Birmingham City analysis: Why Che Adams needs more games – and Cheick Keita could do with less". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  51. ↑ Lansley, Peter (29 April 2017). "Harry Redknapp's 10-man Birmingham City sink Huddersfield". The Observer. London. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  52. ↑ "Che Adams: Birmingham City win appeal over striker's red card". BBC Sport. 3 May 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  53. ↑ Stewart, Rob (7 May 2017). "Harry Redknapp jumps for joy as Birmingham narrowly beat Bristol to avoid dropping into League One". The Independent. London. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  54. 1 2 3 Dick, Brian (7 September 2016). "Birmingham City reward star attacker with new long-term contract". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  55. 1 2 "Che Adams keen to 'kick on' after fine first season". Birmingham City F.C. 10 July 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  56. ↑ Wollaston, Steve (9 August 2016). "Che Adams: This is what the Birmingham City striker thinks about the season ahead, and reveals his target for the season". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 September 2017.
  57. ↑ Dick, Brian (17 June 2017). "Birmingham City: Premier League and Championship clubs tracking Blues forward". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  58. ↑ Bonell, Jonny (9 August 2017). "Derby County target Che Adams on the transfer speculation linking him away from Birmingham City". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
    Dick, Brian (18 July 2017). "Birmingham City transfer news: Blues set to reward star with new deal". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
    Chapman, Joseph (17 September 2017). "Transfers: Harry Redknapp reveals the side who offered Birmingham City £10m for Che Adams". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  59. ↑ "Birmingham City 5–1 Crawley Town". BBC Sport. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  60. ↑ Ireland, Shane (13 September 2017). "Harry Redknapp bemoans injuries to Birmingham City pair in Leeds United defeat". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
  61. ↑ Scott, Ged (13 October 2017). "Birmingham City 1–0 Cardiff City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  62. ↑ "Ilkeston teenager turns down chance to play for Antigua & Barbuda". Derby Telegraph. 7 October 2014. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  63. ↑ "Sheffield United: Young prospect gets his chance to shine". Sheffield Star. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  64. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (27 August 2015). "England U20s squad selected ahead of Czech test". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  65. ↑ Veevers, Nicholas (5 September 2015). "England U20s kick-off with 5–0 win at St. George's Park". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  66. ↑ "England U20s fall to narrow defeat in Shrewsbury". The Football Association. 7 September 2015. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  67. ↑ "Games played by Che Adams in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  68. ↑ "Games played by Che Adams in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  69. ↑ "Games played by Che Adams in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
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