Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has revealed he knew Tyler Adams would be a "special" player after seeing him play as a 15-year-old during his time at New York Red Bulls.
Adams and Marsch reunited this summer at Elland Road having previously been together in New York and at RB Leipzig.
While he may only be a few months into his Leeds career, Adams has shown plenty of promise following his arrival from Germany for £20m.
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The 23-year-old has formed a strong partnership in central midfield with Spaniard Marc Roca, who also joined Leeds in the summer.
Adams has brought a high level of intensity and energy to Leeds engine room, which has endeared him to plenty of Whites supporters. He has also impressed on the global stage too recently, producing a number of impressive displays for the USA at the World Cup. Leeds have found a real gem in Adams who still has plenty of time to develop further.
And Marsch believes the 23-year-old's intelligence is just one of traits that have helped Adams to hit the ground running at Elland Road.
"He's true to himself and he's, for a young man his age, I think he's gotten comfortable with who he is," Marsch told Men in Blazers.
"There's times when you're a footballer when you have to know how to say the right things but say them in a way that represents yourself and then there's other times when you just have to say what you think and his balance is understanding how to do that and get that balance right.
"He's a smart kid and I think people underestimate how intelligent he is.
"In this world, there aren't as many professional football players who have had as good an upbringing, have had an education as what he's had and I think he and his family are grounded in all the things that matter in life, not just in football. He's special.
"I texted him before the match [against Wales] and I said, the day I saw him when he was 15 years old playing for the U17s, I envisioned that day him captaining the World Cup team.
"When I saw that young man at that age, I could see the building blocks of something really special."
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