Soccer

Transfer news: Nathan Collins becomes most expensive Irish transfer as Josh Cullen joins Burnley

Blockbuster move takes Collins from relegated Burnley back up to Premier League

Nathan Collins has completed his anticipated move to Wolves. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA

Tue Jul 12 2022 - 17:30

Republic of Ireland international Nathan Collins has completed his move to Premier League Wolves from relegated Burnley for an undisclosed fee. The move is believed to make him the most expensive Irish transfer ever.

The 21-year-old former Stoke defender has signed a five-year deal with the option of another 12 months, and completed a medical in time to join the club’s pre-season trip to Alicante.

Wolves’ technical director Scott Sellars told the club’s official website: “We’ve looked at Nathan for a while and admired him, so we’re delighted to bring him to the football club.

[ Nathan Collins scores goal for the ages as Kenny’s men earn point against Ukraine in Poland ]

“He’s a very talented young man – he’s only 21, has played international football and had a good season last year with Burnley. We think we’ve signed a player with a lot of potential, as well as being a very good footballer now.

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“We’re getting someone who is physically very good, very tall, very athletic, and is very comfortable on the ball – he can step in and take the ball forward, which is what we need. He’s very good in both boxes and has real aerial strength.

“The feedback on his personality is about his leadership qualities, he’s a good character, so he ticks all the boxes. He comes across as expected, a humble young man who is appreciative of the opportunity, so we’re all going to be very happy.”

Having begun his career at Cherry Orchard in Dublin, Collins was brought to England by Stoke and made his senior debut for the Potters in a Sky Bet Championship clash with Swansea in April 2019.

He joined the Clarets in a £12million switch last summer and made 22 appearances, 19 of them in the league, last season as they slipped out of the top flight.

However, he signed off for the campaign on a high when he played every minute of Ireland’s four Nations League fixtures in June and scored a stunning solo goal in the last of them, a 1-1 draw with Ukraine in the Polish city of Lodz.

Josh Cullen has had his move to Burnley confirmed. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho

In other transfer news relating to Burnley, Republic of Ireland midfielder Josh Cullen has joined them from manager Vincent Kompany’s former club Anderlecht.

Cullen, 26, has agreed a three-year deal to become the Clarets’ sixth summer signing after the two clubs agreed an undisclosed fee, reported to be £3-3.5million.

Kompany said: “We are delighted to welcome Josh to the squad, he’s a hard-working and brave player, that will give everything for the team and the club.

“Josh is an intelligent midfielder, who is good on the ball and will help improve our side.”

Cullen will team back up with Kompany after spending the last two seasons at Anderlecht, where he made 70 appearances in all competitions.

He progressed through West Ham’s academy and had loan spells at Bradford, Bolton and Charlton before heading to Belgium in 2020.

Following relegation from the Premier League last season, Burnley have also signed Scott Twine, Luke McNally, CJ Egan-Riley, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Samuel Bastien.

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