New winger relishing top-flight return with the Clarets
Nathan Redmond says he is excited by ‘Burnley’s Project’ as the Clarets add the former Southampton man’s experience to the squad ahead of the upcoming 2023/24 campaign.
Redmond has played over 250 games in the top-flight and last season’s spell at Besiktas was the wideman’s first season away from the Premier League since 2015.
The ex-Saints, Norwich City and Birmingham City forward becomes Vincent Kompany’s sixth new arrival of the summer transfer window and Redmond is relishing his return to the Prem as the Clarets also gear up for the instant return.
After penning a two-year deal with the option of a third, Redmond said: “It’s been going on behind the scenes behind for a bit and talking with the manager, but I’m really happy it’s finally over the line and I’m delighted to be a Burnley player.
“I always had aspirations to play in the Premier League again and I’m really thankful to Besiktas for allowing me to play there but I’m really to be back in the Premier League with this Club.
“I think with Burnley’s project at the moment and the direction the Club is going in, it lines up with my ambitions.
“I think also, with the management team as well, after having conversations with them, they feel like they can potentially enhance my game a little bit more and they see the value I can bring to the Club on and off the field, so it feels like a perfect match.”
The 29-year-old arrives with a wealth of experience and insists he has arrived at Turf Moor aiming to play an integral role in Vincent Kompany’s side this season.
“I’m sure they got good references because I’m here and they just wanted to know if I still had the hunger and desire to play in the Premier League and they didn’t want me to come and just make up the numbers.
“I’m eager to get into training, eager to learn and eager to process all the information that the management team are going to offload onto me so it’s exciting times for me.
“They wanted me to come here and compete with the other players and also be that sort of voice in the dressing room when times are hard, and they need a bit of a lift but also when times are happy that we can maintain the high standards that we set ourselves.”
Redmond spent the 2022/23 campaign in Istanbul, making 28 appearances Super Lig side Besiktas but still had an eye for the Clarets and watched a handful of games whilst in Turkey.
“I know a few of the lads here, I’ve known Jay Rod for a long time, Mike (Obafemi) is here, and (Nathan) Tella was here last season and I saw them come through at Southampton.
“So, when there were big and important games coming up, I was always dropping them a message and giving it a watch.
“I’d watched a few games and surprisingly the games I watched were the games that weren’t perhaps very good, but it was games like Middlesbrough at home when it was a tough game but still won.
“I’ve seen the styles of play, the communication between the boys, seeing certain runs and seeing the passes and the appreciation of the passes.
“I was able to follow them as well as I could, and I essentially did my own research in my own time in looking at games that they played and highlights.
“I saw that the ethos was there and what the management team were saying and was happening on the field was matching up and that gave me confidence in making my decision.”
Redmond spent seven years with the Saints in the Premier League and also scored against Burnley at Turf Moor in 2019.
The winger has memories from East Lancashire but is now looking forward to pulling on the Claret & Blue shirt and representing the home side.
Redmond said: “You’ll always hear a lot of players say it’s a difficult afternoon and it always is.
“I think the atmosphere is always a bit tense because they are proper die-hard fans and loyal supporters.”
“It was never a fixture that you’d look at and think ‘there’s three points’ and even playing them away from home we always knew it wasn’t going to be an easy fixture.”
“Yeah, I’ve scored here and had some good results here, but I’ve also had some bad results here.”
“Hopefully I can bring more good results to Turf Moor.”
