Clarets Sign Brentford’s Andre Gray
Burnley Football Club have today broken their club record transfer fee signing Brentford’s Andre Gray for around 9 million pound on a three-year contract. The striker will not be in the squad to face his former club at Turf Moor tomorrow, as the deal was not completed before the 5.00pm deadline.
The former England C international, who will wear the number seven shirt at Turf Moor, joined the youth set-up at Shrewsbury in 2004 and five years later signed his first professional contract with the club.
However, after finding appearances limited he soon joined non-league Telford and Hinckley on loan, later signing a permanent deal with Hinckley, where he scored 37 goals in 85 appearances.
Gray’s big break came in 2012 when he joined then Conference side Luton Town, initially on loan scoring in his first four games. His total of 7 goals in 12 games helped Luton reach the play-off finals and that summer he signed a two-year deal with the club.
His 30 goals in 45 games, helped him collect the club’s Young Player of the Year award and the golden boot, as he helped Luton Town earn promotion back into the Football League as Conference Premier champions.
Gray eventually left Luton Town to sign for Brentford in the summer of 2014, having made 111 appearances scoring 57 goals during his two-year at Kenilworth Road. His only season at Griffin Park, helped Brentford to a fifth place finish and the play-offs in the Bees’ debut season in the Sky Bet Championship.
Speaking about the record signing Burnley manager Sean Dyche said, “I’am delighted to add a long-time target and proven Championship goal-grabber to his squad. Andre is a player who we have been aware of since his Hinckley Town days in non-league.
My coach Tony Loughlan flagged him up there and we have watched his development. I am pleased to say that has gone very well so far. He has worked very, very hard to get to the level. He has risen up the ladder and in many ways he is similar to two former strikers Danny Ings and Charlie Austin.
In that respect there is a rawness, a hunger and a great desire from him to continue his education and go even further, and we intend that to be with us in the immediacy and also in the future.”
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