Burnley are back in the big time at the first possible opportunity, and the past year has seen something of a Claret revolution in Lancashire. Vincent Kompany was appointed as manager last year after taking his first steps into management at Anderlecht, and his swaggering, possession-heavy side took the Championship by storm, racking up 101 points to seal promotion in style.
The question now is whether Burnley can adapt that style for life back in the Premier League, and they can look to 21/22's Championship-winning Fulham side for inspiration on how to make that jump look easy. It's not – ask Norwich, who won the second tier at a canter in both the 20/21 and 18/19 seasons but failed to convert that dominance into survival.
What's expected to be a busy summer at Turf Moor has already started in full swing, with numerous players going both in and out through the revolving doors. We will update you as the deals are made and what's in process. The confirmed transfer ins and outs at Burnley so far are as follows.
Burnley signings: Summer 2023 arrivals
Dara O'Shea
The first completely new player to arrive at Turf Moor this summer was Dara O'Shea, signed from West Bromwich Albion for a little over the £7 million mark. The Irish centre-back penned a four-year contract with the Clarets, departing the Hawthorns after eight years with the Baggies.
Still just 24, O'Shea comes with Premier League pedigree, having impressed for West Brom in their last top-flight stint, but also with a healthy dose of experience and leadership. He racked up over 100 appearances for WBA after progressing through the club's youth system, and captained the side on numerous occasions in the Championship last year.
A stalwart of Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland team too, Kompany described his new addition as “strong at the back as well as confident moving forward” – high praise from one of the greatest centre-backs of the Premier League era.
Dominant in the air, as well as having a good eye for a pass and the ability to switch his range up to get the ball into dangerous areas, O'Shea should fit nicely into what Kompany is trying to do at Burnley, taking on the role that City loanee Taylor Harwood-Bellis played for the majority of last season.
O'Shea also joins a strong Irish contingent at Burnley, with Josh Cullen and Dara Costelloe both still at the club, and Michael Obafemi making his loan move permanent earlier on in the summer.
Jordan Beyer
The second centre-back on this list, Beyer spent last season on loan in Lancashire, making 30 appearances as Burnley romped to the league title. Kompany wasted no time in making that deal permanent this summer, activating their purchase option in the loan agreement with Borussia Mönchengladbach and dropping a reported £13 million to secure the 23-year-old's services for the foreseeable future.
It looks like an astute piece of business. Whilst not yet in the full prime of his career, Beyer has shown real class at the heart of Burnley's defence over the last year, and stood out in a positive light when Burnley faced one of their toughest tests of last season when they went toe-to-toe with Manchester United in the Carabao Cup.
His versatility offers Kompany options too. Beyer was primarily used as the left-sided centre-back when Harwood-Bellis was available last year, but seamlessly switched to the right when needed, and he also played a fair amount at right-back in his youth career – something Burnley's recruitment team were well aware of when tracking him last summer.
Comfortable on the ball and carrying out of defence, but with a keen awareness of his responsibilities and positioning within the structure of the team as a whole, Beyer has been a key cog in Burnley's return to the Premier League, and looks set to continue in a big way as they now turn their attentions to solidifying their top-flight status.
Michael Obafemi
Another loan signing made permanent, Irish international Obafemi made the switch from Swansea to Burnley in January and helped push the envelope over the line, scoring twice and grabbing an assist in 12 Championship appearances in the second half of the season.
The former Southampton man didn't actually start any league games, but his impact off the bench was shown in the manner of his first goal for the club, when he bundled home from a corner in stoppage time to earn his new club a hard-earned point.
Upon making the deal permanent, Kompany spoke about the fact that he had wanted to ease the 23-year-old into life at the club, and that his ability to impact games in short bursts was unique to the Dublin-born forward. Obafemi is blessed with blistering pace, but his work rate is unquestionable too, and it's clear that his manager sees his trajectory as one which only points upwards.
It's not all good news though – Obafemi tore his hamstring whilst on international duty with the Republic of Ireland at the start of the summer, and now looks set to miss the start of the season. He has, though, successfully undergone surgery, and has shared positive updates about beginning the recovery process and getting back to playing as soon as possible.
Lawrence Vigouroux
Signed on a free from Leyton Orient, Burnley's move for Lawrence Vigouroux took a few people by surprise. Once of Liverpool and Tottenham, the 29-year-old spent some time at Swindon Town before signing for Orient back in 2020 – where he's been a crucial part of the side who won League 2 last season, and has taken home the club's Player of the Season award three times in a row.
It's as yet unknown just how much playing time that Vigouroux will get at Turf Moor next season, but there can be no doubt Burnley will have options in that department.
James Trafford
The talk of Burnley’s transfer window so far has been the £19m capture of goalkeeper James Trafford, in a club record breaking deal.
Signed from Manchester City on a four year contract, the 20-year-old will get his shot in the Premier League in claret and blue after rising through the ranks of City’s academy.
The Citizens will have a 20% sell-on clause included in the deal, as well as a buy-back option in a move that has raised a number of questions regarding the fee nearing £20m for a player that has only made senior appearances in League One.
Trafford spent last season on loan at Bolton, where he made 45 appearances before having a summer to remember in being England’s number one in their win at the U21 European Championships.
For such a high fee, there is expectation that the City academy product will be the man to occupy the goal in Kompany’s side for the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Zeki Amdouni
While the fee for Trafford will steal the headlines, another lavish acquisition has arrived at Turf Moor, with striker Zeki Amdouni making the move from Basel to Burnley.
Signed on a five-year deal for an undisclosed fee, the region of the price paid for electrifying 22-year-old is around the €18.6m (£16m) mark, in a move expected to bolster Kompany’s outlet in the front line.
The versatile forward netted 22 goals and recorded five assists in all competitions in the 2022/23 term for Basel, cementing himself as a firm favourite in the squad for the Swiss side.
🇨🇭 📝 @premierleague pic.twitter.com/Vf3E8ZQc0S
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 19, 2023
Speaking after securing the Switzerland international, Kompany revealed the youngster had been on his radar for a while and was full of praise for his new signing.
“Zeki is such a goal threat,he's been on our radar for quite a while now.
The way he can play the final pass creates so many assists and thanks to the amount of work he puts in on the pitch he scores plenty himself.
He's a very intelligent footballer, technically gifted and with a great work ethic. He's a big talent.”
Luca Koleosho
A slightly lower fee, Burnley have welcomed winger Luca Koleosho from Espanyol on a four year deal for a reported fee of £2.6m.
The Italian made four appearances in La Liga last campaign, scoring once for his side and played the majority of his football with the club’s academy in the Segunda Federacion, making 12 appearances and scoring two goals.
Deployed as a right-winger, the 18-year-old will be a good option for Kompany to use sporadically, with the teenager thrilled with the chance to blossom with the Premier League side under the watchful eye of the Belgian.
“We spoke about the way they would help me improve and get better as a player and I was just excited by it.
“It feels amazing to be here. I can't wait to get started now.”
Nathan Redmond
While some intriguing captures from abroad have been made, Burnley secured the signing of a familiar face to the Premier League in Nathan Redmond.
The former Southampton and Norwich winger made the move from Turkish side Besiktas as a free agent, despite the Eagles’ wish to keep him in Istanbul. The Englishman has signed a two year deal at Turf Moor on the back of an impressive individual campaign in Turkey, in which he netted five goals and recorded five assists in 25 Super Lig appearances.
Having made 264 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career, the 29-year-old will bring his knowledge to the newly promoted squad, hoping to add to his 28 goals in the English top-tier.
Kompany spoke after Redmond’s arrival, gleaming with the new addition who he said will bring a “wealth of experience” from his time in the Premier League previous to his spell in Turkey.
Jacob Bruun Larsen
In the hope to sign Nathan Tella on a permanent deal after the Englishman had a bright spell at Turf Moor last season, the Clarets were dealt a blow in their pursuit, having a £9m bid rejected for the winger.
Following the disappointment of the turned down offer, Kompany opted to rekindle with an alternative former player, signing wide player Jacob Bruun Larsen on loan from Hoffenheim.
The versatile attacker played under the Belgian at Anderlecht, where he developed his game after beginning his career at Borussia Dortmund. The 24-year-old is under contract at Hoffenheim currently, making 12 appearances in the Bundesliga last term, scoring once in the German top-tier.
With the winger’s game time currently of a sporadic nature in Germany, the Danish forward will have the chance to blossom once more with the guidance of Kompany, admitting that he was excited by the project proposed by the coach.
“I wanted to come to Burnley, the whole project really inspired me and as soon as I heard of the possibility, I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
Aaron Ramsey
Having been at Aston Villa, Aaron Ramsey made the switch to newly promoted Burnley. The £14m move saw Ramsey look for a new challenge under Vincent Kompany, though at least the shirt looks the same. The deal does include a buy-back clause for Villa if they wish to bring him back in the near future.
Signing a 5-year contract, Ramsey has committed to the Clarets, and at just 20 years of age, Ramsey has his best still to give. Making just four senior appearances for Villa, it was clearly the right time for Ramsey to leave the club. He leaves his brother, Jacob, who remains at Villa.
Burnley's transfer departures
Ashley Barnes – Norwich City
After nearly a decade at Turf Moor, a period in which Ashley Barnes played over 250 games for Burnley and netted over 50 times for the club, the striker finally called time on his Clarets' career this summer, moving on a free transfer to Norwich City. A defining figure in the Sean Dyche era – Barnes helped Burnley win promotion from the Championship on three separate occasions and will go down as a bona fide club legend.
His gamesmanship and antics won him plenty of fans in the Premier League, and his booking in 2019 for planting a kiss on Cardiff's Joe Bennett has been described as one of the strangest yellow cards in the history of the game.
Questions were asked about how he would fit into Vincent Kompany's plans with a new-look Burnley outfit at the start of the campaign, but he has been brilliant again, making 39 appearances under the new manager and playing some of the best football of his career.
Burnley's loss will undoubtedly be Norwich's gain, as Barnes leaves Turf Moor with every well wish under the sun, and the eternal gratitude of the Clarets' faithful for his efforts for the club.
Matthew Lowton – Released
Another long-standing servant in Claret has been Matt Lowton, who joined the club from Aston Villa back in 2015 for £1.4 million. It would turn out to be an astute bit of business from Burnley, and Lowton went on to rack up 200 appearances for the club, scoring three times and providing 14 assists from his right-back berth.
Lowton, like Barnes, was part of the Burnley side who wrote themselves into folklore by qualifying for the Europa League under Sean Dyche, and his work rate and willingness to sacrifice himself for the team meant he was beloved by fans.
The 34-year-old spent the back half of last season on loan at Huddersfield Town under Neil Warnock, but it's currently unclear what the future holds for him – aside from returning to Turf Moor as a fan, which he spoke fondly of doing in his farewell interview with the club.
Will Norris – Portsmouth
Will Norris has been at Burnley for three years, but in that time he has only made three senior appearances for the club, two of which came in the 2020/21 Premier League season.
He was loaned out last year to Peterborough United, where he clocked up 24 starts in League One, and he departs this summer on a free transfer to join Portsmouth, as Pompey attempt to climb back into the second tier of English football.
Bobby Thomas – Coventry City
With one year remaining on his contract, Burnley opted to cash in on academy graduate Bobby Thomas, who has joined Championship side Coventry City in a deal worth £2m.
The centre-back rose through the ranks in the youth set-up at Turf Moor, however made just one senior appearance for the Clarets that came in 90 minutes in the third-round of the league cup against Millwall in 2020.
Thomas spent last season on loan at Barnsley, where he made 22 appearances in League One to add to his 19 appearances made in the third-tier during his spell at Bristol Rovers the campaign prior.
At 22, it seems like the time for the defender to move on and build on his development at senior level.
Luke McNally – Stoke City
Shortly after returning from his half-season spell at Coventry City, Luke McNally is on the move again in the bid to gain valuable experience back in the Championship.
The Irishman has joined Stoke City on a season-long loan to build on his impressive form in the second-tier last season during his time at Coventry. The 23-year-old spent the first half of the 2022/23 campaign at Turf Moor, however after recording two appearances was deployed with the Sky Blues to secure game time.
The Potters have completed the signing of defender Luke McNally, who joins on a season-long loan from Burnley.
Welcome to the bet365 Stadium, Luke 🤝
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) August 2, 2023
Speaking after making the move to the Potters, McNally relished the opportunity he has to record another strong season.
“The scope is massive here, it is a really good opportunity for me and I believe, with the squad that is being built, that we can achieve great things.”
Bailey Peacock-Farrell – AGF Aarhus
After making 16 appearances for the Clarets in all competitions last season, goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell has made the move to Denmark to represent AGF Aarhus in the country’s first division.
The 26-year-old will spend the season with Aarhus, making the move away from Turf Moor at a decisive time, in which the club have obtained two keepers in this transfer window.
With his contract at Burnley expiring next summer, the future of the Northern Irish shot stopper is unknown, however, he will be given a chance to impress with the Danish outfit in the bid to generate attention prior to his return.
Wout Weghorst – Hoffenheim
Replacing Chris Wood at Burnley in the season, they would ultimately drop to the Championship. It never really worked out for Weghorst. When Burnley went down, he went on loan to Besiktas to try and save his career. Then, when Man United needed a striker, Weghorst downed tools to get his loan move changed so he could play in Manchester. The move was a disaster as Weghorst returned to Burnley.
With Burnley now promoted, the damage was already done, and eventually, Weghorst would move on loan again this season. Linking up with Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga on loan for another season.
