Jones in surprise move to Sheffield Wednesday
David Jones was in the Burnley team as the 2016/17 season kicked off but he’s now left Turf Moor and returned to the Championship in a transfer to Sheffield Wednesday on a three year deal.
In many ways, Jones has been something of a marmite player during his three years at Burnley. Those not keen on him would always refer to his strong preference to use his left foot, while those, like me, who were positive about him would often comment on how rarely he gave the ball away.
He’s been with us for three seasons having been released by Wigan and he was instrumental in the two promotion seasons, alongside Dean Marney in the 2013/14 season, when he played every single game, and playing with Joey Barton in the midfield area last season.
In three seasons he’s made 124 league appearances out of a total of 130 and all but two of them have been starts. He turned in some outstanding performances in each of his three seasons and I don’t think he ever played better than during the first half at Old Trafford against his first club Manchester United back in February 2015.
He’d started his career at United during which time he had loans with Preston and NEC Nijmegen. His first permanent transfer was to Derby and he also played for Wolves and Wigan, spending some time with Blackburn on loan at the end of is Wigan career and playing against us in the 2013 1-1 draw at Ewood Park.
His signing for Burnley was the worst kept secret in the summer of 2013. He played through the pre-season but didn’t sign until two days before the first game, this to ensure he was paid by Wigan during July; that showing the financial state of our club at the time.
Now 31, he had one year remaining on his Burnley contract and when Wednesday stepped in to trigger a release clause, he took the opportunity to sign for them on a three year deal.
Only last week, in an interview before the Swansea game, he said of being at Burnley: “It feels like a very nice club to be a part of, one that’s growing and the expectation is getting higher and higher which is good for my game and my personal career ambitions.”
He said of manager Sean Dyche: “A lot of the reasons for the success of the club has been the manager. For me personally, I’ve really enjoyed working with him and his staff and he’s definitely the right person to take this club forward as he has done for the previous four years.”
Today, he explained the move. “It was a bit of a whirlwind few hours to be honest,” he said. “When I arrived at training yesterday I had a message on my phone from my agent saying that Sheffield Wednesday have matched the buyout clause in my contract and that I can go for a medical in Sheffield. So I drove over to Hillsborough from Burnley and a few hours later I had completed my medical and everything had been agreed, so I was able to sign the contract.”
So, he’s opted to move on. I, for one, will miss Jonah. He’s been an outstanding player for us in the three years he’s been a Claret and I do think he’ll be a big player to replace. I think he’s been one of Sean Dyche’s best signings. I can do no more than wish him the very best at Sheffield Wednesday.
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