In Profile: Che Adams

By SFC Media time Mon 01 Jul Transfer News
Photo by Matt Watson | Southampton FC

Born in Leicester on 13th July 1996, Che Adams’ prolific goalscoring form in the 2018/19 campaign made him one of the most sought-after young forwards in English football.

With pace and power in abundance, his 22-goal haul for Birmingham was the best of his career to date and saw him nominated for the EFL Player of the Year Award, as well as scooping Players' Player of the Season and Supporters' Player of the Season awards in May.

The 22-year-old started his career at non-league Oadby Town before catching the eye of former Chelsea and Northern Ireland striker Kevin Wilson, who was then manager at Ilkeston Town, at a Leicester City trial day.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 02: Che Adams of Birmingham City celebrates after he scores a penalty during the Sky Bet Championship between Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest at St Andrew's Trillion Trophy Stadium on February 02, 2019 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Adams celebrates a strike against Nottingham Forest at St Andrew's (Photo: Getty Images)

It wasn’t long before he started to make waves in the Northern Premier League at the age of just 17 and at one game in particular, over 40 clubs were in attendance to watch him. A goal during a 3-1 win over FC United saw Adams pick up the ball from inside his own half, show blistering pace to leave defenders trailing in his wake and finish coolly.

It was in November 2014 that Nigel Clough and Sheffield United won the race for his signature. He made his professional debut against Saints in the League Cup, replacing Jamal Campbell-Ryce at half-time.

His first and second professional goals came as a second-half substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final of the same competition.

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: Che Adams of Sheffield United scores his first goal during the Capital One Cup Semi-Final Second Leg match between Sheffield United and Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane on January 28, 2015 in Sheffield, England.  (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
A first professional goal against Tottenham in the League Cup for Che Adams (Photo: Laurence Griffiths)

During his first full season, he went on to score 12 goals in League One and totalled 15 goals in 54 appearances for the Blades before joining Birmingham City in 2016.

His maiden campaign at St Andrew’s saw a return of seven goals in 42 appearances, including a crucial last-day winner against Bristol City that kept the Blues in the Championship.

WATCH CHE ADAMS IN ACTION WITH A 19/20 SEASON TICKET

He arrives on the south coast with an insatiable work ethic to improve and make the step up to the Premier League as seamless as the ones before on his remarkable rise. With manager Ralph Hasenhüttl making no secret that a player of his profile is perfect for his Saints side, he has all the attributes to do just that.

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