ARTICLE:Clarets bring in Kyle Walker from Manchester City

[ClaretTony]

Could add Christian Erikson on that free agent list to, did he play with Parker and Walker at spurs?

Arrived at Spurs just as Parker was leaving but was there four years with Walker

[Stan Tastic]

Have Burnley ever signed a current England international before this?

[mdd2]

A City friend of mine, who knows his football, rates Walker still and thinks he is out of favour at City because he fell out with Pep.

[morninbob]

Have Burnley ever signed a current England international before this?

Joe hart ?

[Pearcey]

A City friend of mine, who knows his football, rates Walker still and thinks he is out of favour at City because he fell out with Pep.

He not the only one who rates him. The current England manager does too.

[123EasyasBFC]

Arrived at Spurs just as Parker was leaving but was there four years with Walker

Couldn’t remember if Parker was still there when they spent all the Bale money or not

[ClaretTony]

Joe hart ?

He hadn't played for England since the previous year though

[Big Vinny K]

Hopefully his ropey season last year was down to a less than stable situation at city on and off the field and then having to move to AC Milan and play in a completely different league and system etc.

Before this he has been consistently one of the best - if not the best full back in the world. It wasn’t that long ago he was one of the few players in the world getting the better of Vinicius Junior.

When Dwight McNeil was playing really well I’ve seen him give lots of good full backs like TAA and others a tough game. I never saw him or any other Burnley player get any change out of Walker.

We know he can play centre back in a back 3 too and whilst he has probably lost some pace I imagine that he will still be pretty rapid and we know how important that is in the EPL. He’s also got that switch long diagonal ball he can play and with losing ER that could also be useful.

His experience and leadership should be vital. Hopefully it’s a signing that will help attract other players too as he must have a hell of a lot of respect in the game throughout the world

[ClaretsPadiham]

Fenerbache offered him a 2 year deal close to the wages he was on at City according to a journalist on Twitter(100k followers)

We must have paid him a very good signing on fee, and you would imagine hes our top earner.

[mdd2]

I was waiting for a potential negative from you but I suspected it would be more in line with the squad being too big.

He's got a two year deal while only having one left at City. Don't read too much into the numbers.

Not being at all negative this time. Apart from bankrupting the club this IMO is the best signing we have made since Defour and hopefully Kyle will stay fit.
I wonder if Scott will play him in midfield.
He is the kind of player in the Young, Milner, Van Dyke mold who with a bit of luck could be in our 2027-28 squad

[Clive 1960]

Fenerbache offered him a 2 year deal close to the wages he was on at City according to a journalist on Twitter(100k followers)

We must have paid him a very good signing on fee, and you would imagine hes our top earner.

if he is our top earner will he take a pay cut like the rest if we go back down...

[Clovius Boofus]

I'm just glad he's here. I'm not going to ponder upon the finances of the deal, after all, it's very unlikely I'm ever going to be privy to the stuff that goes on behind closed doors. Besides, that's for the club's bean counters, not me, so why bother.

I'm happy we've signed him, and that's all there is to it. Why bring yourself down every time there's some good news?

[mdd2]

I think, on paper, we have got some useful new players in pretty early in the transfer window and my guess is we just need a Brownhill replacement and a decent striker, others may disagree.
When we played City in our first game of the 23-24 season was Zaroury red carded for his foul against Walker? I think it was Kyle being too quick for Anas.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

Fenerbache offered him a 2 year deal close to the wages he was on at City according to a journalist on Twitter(100k followers)

We must have paid him a very good signing on fee, and you would imagine hes our top earner.

Probably lower wage, bigger bonuses and he's also closer to both sets of kids etc

[ClaretTony]

Probably lower wage, bigger bonuses and he's also closer to both sets of kids etc

Very close to one at Gawthorpe

[Steddyman]

Sounds like the club has actually got someone professional to do the interviews

I thought this. A big step up from the college kid style interviews of the previous signings.

[Goalposts]

He just said his son is also training at the football club and that was part of the attraction

[Alan Young]

If there wasn't such a trust in Parker I think there would have to be big questions about character because by any measure he's an idiot and a very unpleasant one at that.

On the pitch, maybe he's still got it and maybe he hasn't. I'm inclined to think a current England international at such a cheap price would have better offers than Burnley but maybe it's a masterstroke.

Clearly had his issues away from the game but I think generally he’s been very much a professional footballer and viewed as a leader within the City/England ranks.

[ClaretTony]

He just said his son is also training at the football club and that was part of the attraction

He's 13 and in our academy

[fidelcastro]

Well done to all involved for getting this over the line.

He just has to live up to the hype now!

[Vegas Claret]

Something clearly went wrong for him at City with Pep. Unreal signing, he should bring an awful lot to our side. Don't underestimate his ability to talk to the refs too.

[Casper2]

Pep falls out with players all the time , look at Grealish for instance.

[CoolClaret]

Pep falls out with players all the time , look at Grealish for instance.

Hey Jack, if you fancy a local loan move mate...

[CrosspoolClarets]

I wonder if this is one of the "significant things in the close season" that Dave Checketts was talking about in his recent interview with Simon Evans, that could help establish us as a Bournemouth type of club and stay in the Premier League...

Just had a look at the lists of Bournemouth signings in both their PL spells and none are of that profile that Kyle Walker is. Maybe when they signed the keeper Neto from Barca on a free. But by and large they have brought in a blend of experience and young flair but without breaking the bank, until the last couple of years when that chequebook started loosening. When they signed players like Ake and Solanke they were ad hoc signings not a flurry of them.

I think the key is profile (height, strength, speed) and age (blend of young and old). We do seem to be doing that. Neither Dyche nor Kompany did, for opposite reasons.

But someone like Kyle Walker is on a different level - we are Burnley not Bournemouth and whether due to history, size or geographical reasons I feel we can attract a different type of player. It should be a fantastic signing.

Off topic - we always knew who the boss is at Burnley (Checketts) but I chuckled when he told Simon “I sent Alan to Real Salt Lake”, it made it really clear who was and is pulling the strings.

[ClaretPete001]

I think you've missed my point, it was a direct reply to mdd2

I can think of five negatives: as you say, the squad is too big, and I think he is another full back. It's not really solving the fundamental issues in midfield or up front and there will be no re-sale value. And finally, he is 35.

Other than that a great signing who has pace, experience and can play in a back 3. Probably the most interesting signing of the season so far.

[TheFamilyCat]

Hopefully got a swan song season left in him at 35, will definitely be a presence in the dressing room

And probably a few bedrooms too.

[exilecanada]

I wonder what Bashley feels about signing Walker? Will his responsibilities of being unofficial clubhouse captain, keeping training standards high and social director be diminished?

[ClaretTony]

I wonder what Bashley feels about signing Walker? Will his responsibilities of being unofficial clubhouse captain, keeping training standards high and social director be diminished?

Won’t have any effect on Ashley Barnes

[ClaretPete001]

Just had a look at the lists of Bournemouth signings in both their PL spells and none are of that profile that Kyle Walker is. Maybe when they signed the keeper Neto from Barca on a free. But by and large they have brought in a blend of experience and young flair but without breaking the bank, until the last couple of years when that chequebook started loosening. When they signed players like Ake and Solanke they were ad hoc signings not a flurry of them.

I think the key is profile (height, strength, speed) and age (blend of young and old). We do seem to be doing that. Neither Dyche nor Kompany did, for opposite reasons.

But someone like Kyle Walker is on a different level - we are Burnley not Bournemouth and whether due to history, size or geographical reasons I feel we can attract a different type of player. It should be a fantastic signing.

Off topic - we always knew who the boss is at Burnley (Checketts) but I chuckled when he told Simon “I sent Alan to Real Salt Lake”, it made it really clear who was and is pulling the strings.

Aside from a couple of years Bournemouth have spent decent money since 2013/14. Spending Eur4 - 5 million on players in the Championship is a decent spend for a club the size of Bournemouth. They spent over Eur50 million in 2015/16 in their second season back in the Championship. Far more then we spent.

[Paul Waine]

WINDOW WATCH
Kyle Walker close to signing two-year deal with Burnley
The 35-year-old defender is set to join former team-mate Scott Parker at Burnley in a free transfer, though bonuses could be worth up to £5m for Manchester City

Peter Rutzler | Martin Hardy, Northern Sports Correspondent, Friday July 04 2025, 8.35pm, The Times

Newly promoted Burnley are close to signing Kyle Walker from Manchester City.

An agreement for the 35-year-old is not completed but Walker began his medical on Friday before a permanent transfer. He is expected to sign a two-year contract, and the deal is likely to be a free transfer initially, but with bonuses that could be worth up to £5million for City.

The England international is keen to work with the Burnley head coach Scott Parker, whom he played alongside during Parker’s two years at Tottenham Hotspur, between 2011 and 2013.

Walker spent last season on loan at AC Milan, where he made 16 appearances, but the Italian club did not take up their option to buy him permanently. Walker’s contract with City is due to expire in 2026.

Walker will add experience to the Burnley squad, having won 17 trophies during his eight years at City.
Burnley signed Axel Tuanzebe on a free transfer from Ipswich Town last week, while Bashir Humphreys (Chelsea), Marcus Edwards (Sporting), Jaidon Anthony (Bournemouth), Quilindschy Hartman (Feyenoord), Max Weiss (Karlsruher) and Zian Flemming (Millwall) have all joined the club on a permanent basis.

[HurstGrangeClaret]

A signing that shows we have learned our lessons from the debacle of the VK Premier League season.
Well done AP and the board and thanks SP for making it happen.
What an exciting time to be a Claret.

[ClaretTony]

Off topic - we always knew who the boss is at Burnley (Checketts) but I chuckled when he told Simon “I sent Alan to Real Salt Lake”, it made it really clear who was and is pulling the strings.

I would doubt that very much

[KlyBfc]

Its an excellent signing and the money doesnt really matter. I believe the transfer fee is heavily linked to appearances and us staying up, so
money saved on the fee will pay towards his wages. He’s a current international and multiple trophy winner at the highest level. He won’t need to or play as high up the pitch as he did at city so any slight loss of pace won’t be as blatantly obvious.
He sounds very proffesional in his interview and any off the pitch stuff is his business only.

Like with any signing theres a chance it doesn’t quite come off but we can’t predict the future so in the here and now with all that we know its a wonderful piece of business for us to sign one of the best right backs of the modern era.

[Cleveleys_claret]

This is an amazing signing. Alan Pace obviously is trusting enough of his mangers to believe in their visions, doing so with Kompany and now Scott Parker. The difference this time round being that he is obviously took on Scott Parkers view that a sprinkling of older heads are just as important as younger saleable talent. The backing of him re-signing Barnes has shown this, and now with Walker, which is unreal, he is still a top class player. Modric is still at the top with Real Madrid at 39 years of age. Yes age factors in but a club like ours and how we will be on the back foot a lot this season, his experience will be invaluable. His coaching of the younger players, keeping heads up, during games will be huge for Parker and keeping team spirit high whilst we go on runs of "where will our next win come from?". He will instill a belief within them players.

Hopefully as others have said Steve will opt to stay, a year or two playing with someone of Walkers ilk will only help him grow as a player, he said in the keeping the faith documentary how he told Egan Riley about future game tapes of players and passed that on, so obvs a player that does all he can to perform to his best, he will know he will still have a lot to learn and who better than Walker who has consistently over the last ten years been one of the best in the world, under the best coach.

This is huge for us...zero negatives from me

[Elizabeth]

For a club in our position if you get the chance to sign Kyle Walker you sign Kyle Walker

[BigGaz]

For a club in our position if you get the chance to sign Kyle Walker you sign Kyle Walker

Nuff said really

[Tribesmen]

Am I the only one who is not sure about him ?

[boatshed bill]

Am I the only one who is not sure about him ?

I doubt it.

[ollieclarets8]

Am I the only one who is not sure about him ?

We could sign Messi - some would be 'concerned' or 'worried'.

[Casper2]

Am I the only one who is not sure about him ?

In what way ?

[ksrclaret]

I'm sure that he's exactly the sort of signing that improves our survival chance by a few percentage points. He's got 10+ years of experience of operating at the highest possible levels and you can't really quantify just how valuable that will become when we need to keep our heads during bad runs of form or hang on during tight games.

Whether we play 4231 or 3421, I'm sure his role will be to defend the right channel and not worry too much about bombing forward. His technique on the ball is also vastly underrated because historically his searing pace has been his USP. That technique won't have deserted him.

[Nonayforever]

Good signing in my opinion.
My early thoughts were that Parker would want established pro's through the door but Pace wants potential.
We have seen potential signings but now an established pro.
Before Walker signed I thought we were in for a long hard season, but now I think we have a chance.

[Tribesmen]

In what way ?

Milan didn't want him , now money or no good enough not sure .
Best years are behind him and can he still cut it in the Prem we will find out soon enough.
So yes I have my doubts .

[steve1264b]

signing confirmed

See link
https://www.uptheclarets.com/clarets-br ... ester-city

Tony when was the last time (if ever) we signed a player who had played for England, in Englands last game before signing for us?

[gtclaret]

Milan didn't want him , now money or no good enough not sure .
Best years are behind him and can he still cut it in the Prem we will find out soon enough.
So yes I have my doubts .

I also have doubts,but SP has said that the best signing last season was Joe Worrell,not for what he did on the pitch,but the help and advice he gave to our two young centre backs with no championship experience, they didn't do too badly did they.
If Kyle has a similar effect as well as some on pitch contribution,it will be money well spent
In his interview,he spoke a lot about helping and guiding the young players,it's obviously part of his remit

[Juan Tanamera]

Imagine if you could bypass time and have Keith on the left now with Kyle Walker on the right. I was brought up with Angus and Elder but Newton was very special.

Going back a little further, imagine our two fullbacks were Keith Newton and John Angus.
The epitome of cool.
Two wonderful footballers.

[ClaretTony]

Tony when was the last time (if ever) we signed a player who had played for England, in Englands last game before signing for us?

Someone asked about the last time we signed a current England international and the closest we found was Joe Hart and he hadn’t played for England in over a year.

So maybe it is the first time.

[redwasp]

There's a good chance he could get his 100th cap while playing for us.

[Quicknick]

Someone asked about the last time we signed a current England international and the closest we found was Joe Hart and he hadn’t played for England in over a year.

So maybe it is the first time.

I've been going back in time in my head. Back in the early/mid-'60s, when we were really big, we didn't even sign anyone from another club, so it must be Walker.

[HunterST_BFC]

https://x.com/burnleyofficial/status/19 ... ILaegOU2yQ

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