Premier League 2025-26 preview: Burnley

The Premier League newcomer faces a major challenge to stay up after key players, including James Trafford, have departed, which has worsened their chances.

Last season's position: 2nd in the Championship

Prospects

No club embodies the deepening gap between the two highest tiers of English football more than Burnley. Their results over the last four seasons are as follows: relegation from the Premier League with 35 points, promotion as Championship champions with 101 points, a repeated relegation from the Premier League with 24 points, and another promotion from the Championship with 100 points. Too strong for one league, but not strong enough for the next – Burnley and its ambitious owners face a significant challenge to reverse the recent tide of their history.

In the first round of the Premier League, Burnley will start the league season against Tottenham. The match will take place on August 16, 2025, at 16:00.

Under the management of Scott Parker, the newly promoted team will likely adopt a more pragmatic approach to their return to the Premier League than they did most recently under Vincent Kompany, although relegation did not harm Kompany's career prospects. The promotion was built on an outstanding defense, and survival may again depend on a similar performance. However, what raises doubts about their prospects is not just the step up in quality but also the fact that Parker has lost key elements of the unit responsible for the best defensive record last season – conceding just 16 goals in 46 games – and keeping 30 clean sheets.

CJ Egan-Riley left for Marseille after rejecting Burnley's new contract offer, while goalkeeper James Trafford, who was selected for the 2024-25 Championship season's team of the year alongside a center-back, has returned to Manchester City. Their departure has hurt survival hopes, but at least Maxime Estève, who also attracted interest, stayed and signed a new five-year contract.

Putting together a Premier League-level attacking line may also be a problem for Burnley. Midfielder and captain Josh Brownhill was the team's top goalscorer last season, but he followed Egan-Riley and left on a free transfer. Parker was forced to strengthen the team's defense and placed an emphasis on experience, as two excellent players, Kyle Walker and Axel Tuanzebe, arrived. They will be sorely needed.

The Manager

Scott Parker is on the same mission as his club this season: both must break an unwanted cycle to survive in the Premier League after two previous attempts failed. Last year's promotion was the third success of the former England international's managerial career, and after Fulham and Bournemouth, he succeeded in achieving it on his first attempt again.

As a manager, however, he has never completed two consecutive seasons in the top flight: in 2021, he was sacked after relegation with Fulham, and in 2022, he was fired from Bournemouth after criticizing the club's transfer policy following a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool. Parker and Burnley hope that the third time will be the charm.

Star Signing

After eight years of brilliant service, Manchester City was willing to part with Kyle Walker, and AC Milan also decided against turning last year's loan into a permanent deal, but it was still a surprise when the England international chose Turf Moor as the next stop in his impressive career. At 35, his famous speed may have slowed, but the right-back remains an intensely competitive individual who brings the leadership, experience, and knowledge that Burnley will need for survival. Walker wanted to stay in the North West, and Parker, his former Tottenham teammate, convinced him about Burnley. The prospect of joining a club as an England centurion (Walker currently has 96 caps) is also an added incentive for him.

Who Will Step Up?

20-year-old striker Joe Westley can build on his important breakthrough last year when he first stepped up to the EFL. After loan spells at National League sides Fylde and Rochdale, Westley joined Swindon on a temporary deal in January and made an immediate impact, scoring on his League Two debut. He scored three goals in 17 appearances for Ian Holloway's team after netting 13 goals in 13 matches for the Burnley U21 team in the first half of the season and made his mark with a winning goal in a pre-season friendly against Huddersfield.

A Big Season For…

Aaron Ramsey suffered a serious knee injury against Arsenal in February 2024, and it has been a long road back for the former England U20 international. Ramsey, the brother of Aston Villa's Jacob, joined Burnley for £14 million plus add-ons in 2023, but due to his injury, he has only made one brief substitute appearance for the first team in the past 18 months. "It's easy to be forgotten when you're not on the pitch," the attacking midfielder admitted last year. Now that he is fit and has a pre-season behind him, the 22-year-old is preparing for a long-awaited return.

The Squad

A deeper examination of the squad reveals a more detailed picture of Burnley's depth and the club's transfer philosophy. Particularly striking is the massive reliance on young talent, which could be key to future stability and increasing market value.

The team's attacking potential looks incredibly strong, both on the wings and at the center-forward position. The high-market-value duo of Armando Broja and Zeki Amdouni promises dynamism and goal-scoring ability at center-forward, while the speed and creativity of Marcus Edwards and Luca Koleosho on the wings could pose a serious threat to opposing defenses. These players are not only young but already represent significant value, suggesting that the club considers investment in the attacking third crucial for staying in the Premier League.

The defense and midfield also show a mixed composition. Alongside young, high-value center-backs like Maxime Estève and left-back Quilindschy Hartman, there are also experienced players like 35-year-old Kyle Walker and 27-year-old Axel Tuanzebe. This blend of experience and youth ensures the squad's balance, and the veterans can act as mentors for the rising talents. The future also belongs to the youth in the midfield, with players like Lesley Ugochukwu and Hannibal, who have the potential to dominate the midfield from both a defensive and attacking perspective. This strategy is clearly aimed at long-term development and the gradual strengthening of the team.