Detailed Burnley Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Burnley Finish Last Season?

The first centurions in the history of football to not win their league title, Scott Parker’s Burnley were hugely unfortunate to finish the season just below the summit of the Championship table. In a cruel twist of fate, Leeds United also accompanied them to the 100 point mark, and thanks to their vastly superior goal difference, pipped Burnley to the post.

🟣🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Burnley have made 7 permanent transfers so far this summer ahead of their Premier League return. 🔜✨ pic.twitter.com/XS75PStdwK

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 1, 2025

However, falling short of the title will not have tarnished what was a remarkable season from Scott Parker’s men - they conceded just 16 goals across the entire 46 game Championship season, keeping 30 clean sheets in the process - there was a stage after the turn of the year where keeper James Trafford made 12 consecutive shutouts in the league, a Championship record.

Naturally, repeating that feat in the Premier League this season is nigh on impossible, but Parker, who has so far tasted relegation twice in his short managerial career, will be feeling significantly more confident of achieving survival this time around - surrounded by an excellent group of players, and riding a high from a record breaking season, Burnley could be an entirely different prospect in 2025/26.

Best Result: QPR 0-5 Burnley (Cullen 9', Flemming 20', 28', Sarmiento 62', 90+2')

Worst Result: Millwall 1-0 Burnley (Cooper 52')

Who Have Burnley Signed In The Summer Transfer Window So Far?

Lesley Ugochukwu from Chelsea - £25 Million

Florentino Luis from Benfica - Season long loan with £20.8 Million Obligation to Buy

Armando Broja from Chelsea - £20 Million

Loum Tchaouna from Lazio - £13.3 Million

Bashir Humphrys from Chelsea - Loan made permanent for £12 Million + £2.7 Million add-ons

Marcus Edwards from Sporting CP - Loan made permanent for £8.4 Million

Jaidon Anthony from AFC Bournemouth - Loan made permanent for £8.1 Million

Quilindschy Hartman from Feyenoord - £7.7 Million

Zian Flemming from Millwall - Loan made permanent for £7 Million

Kyle Walker from Manchester City - £5 Million

Max Weiss from Karlsruher SC - £4.2 Million

Jacob Bruun Larsen from VFB Stuttgart - £3.5 Million

Martin Dubravka from Newcastle United - Undisclosed Fee

Axel Tuanzebe from Ipswich Town - Free Transfer

Total Spent: £135 Million + £2.7 Million in Potential Add Ons

Who Have Burnley Sold in the Summer Transfer Window So Far?

James Trafford to Manchester City - £27 Million

Dara Costelloe to Wigan Athletic - Undisclosed Fee

Darko Churlinov to Kocaelispor - Undisclosed Fee

CJ Egan-Riley to Marseille - Free Transfer

Etienne Green to FC Fredericia - Free Transfer

Luca Koleosho to Espanyol - Season long loan

Michael Mellon to Oldham Athletic - Season long loan

Charlie Casper to Grimsby Town - Season long loan

Tom Tweedy to Morecambe - Season long loan

Sam Waller to Crewe Alexandra - Season long loan

Tommy McDermott to Shrewsbury Town - Season long loan

Aaron Ramsey to Leicester City - Season long loan

Logan to Pye to Accrington Stanley - Season long loan

Joe Bauress to Acrington Stanley - Season long loan

Owen Dodgson to Stockport County - Season long loan

Andreas Hountondji to FC St Pauli - Season Long Loan

Nathan Redmond - Released

Josh Brownhill - Released

Jonjo Shelvey - Released

_Total Recieved: £27 Million _

Burnley 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Max Weiss, Vaclav Hladky.

Defenders: Axel Tuanzebe, Bashir Humphreys, Hannes Delcroix, Kyle Walker, Quilindschy Hartman, Oliver Sonne, Joe Worrall, Maxime Esteve, Connor Roberts, Hjalmar Ekdal, Lucas Pires, Jordan Beyer.

Midfielders: Shurandy Sambo, Lesley Ugochukwu, Florentino Luis, Manuel Benson, Josh Cullen, Hannibal Mejbri, Josh Laurent, Mike Tresor.

Attackers: Jacob Bruun Larsen, Jaidon Anthony, Loum Tchaouna, Marcus Edwards, Armando Broja, Michael Obafemi, Zeki Amdouni, Zian Flemming, Lyle Foster, Ashley Barnes, Jaydon Banel.

Burnley 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

Update your phone wallpaper to celebrate our 2025/26 Home kit 🥳 pic.twitter.com/g6w7rcNGOE

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 4, 2025

Bring the noise 🔊

Presenting Burnley's 2025/26 Away kit – available online now 🎽

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) July 31, 2025

⚫️🟡 Burnley have unveiled their 3rd shirt for the 25/26 season.

Thoughts?#TwitterClarets pic.twitter.com/w1N6reWQ6Q

— The Burnley Way (@TheBurnleyWay) August 9, 2025

What is Burnley’s Opening Premier League Fixture?

Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley | The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London | Saturday, August 16th, 15:00

How Can I Watch Tottenham vs Burnley?

As of the time of writing, the game is not scheduled to be broadcasted on TV, although international providers, such as Supersport, may show the game.

What Are Burnley’s Opening Five Fixtures?

Tottenham vs Burnley - Saturday, August 16th.

Burnley vs Sunderland - Saturday, August 23rd.

Manchester United vs Burnley - Saturday, August 30th.

Burnley vs Liverpool - Sunday, September 14th.

Burnley vs Nottingham Forest - Saturday, September 20th.

When Do Burnley Play Rival’s Leeds United in 2025/26?

With all of their local derby opponents playing in the Championship or below, Burnley’s only perceived rivals for the upcoming season are Leeds, with whom they played out a monumental fight for the Championship title last season.

Burnley vs Leeds - TBC.

Leeds vs Burnley - TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

- 27/01/2025: Burnley 0-0 Leeds United.

- 14/09/2024: Leeds United 3-1 Burnley.

- 26/08/2021: Burnley 1-1 Leeds United.

- 15/05/2021: Burnley 0-4 Leeds United.

- 27/12/2020: Leeds United 1-0 Burnley.

Who is Burnley’s Manager for 2025/26?

Scott Parker is the 2024/25 @SkyBetChamp Manager of the Season 👔

Congratulations, boss! 💜 pic.twitter.com/yCZe2rWkqS

— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 27, 2025

Formerly of Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham United and Newcastle United, Scott Parker has a CV laden with Premier League playing experience. Now, he must use all of that Premier League know-how to earn Burnley Premier League survival, something they have failed to achieve after two of their last three promotions.

Blessed with arguably the most talented Burnley squad we have seen, the likes of James Trafford, Maxime Esteve, Hannibal Mejbri and Marcus Edwards will prove invaluable to Parker’s campaign, while new additions, particularly in the experienced Jyle Walker, bring balance and extra Premier League knowledge to the side.

There is no doubt that keeping Burnley up will be an uphill battle - in the last two seasons, all six promoted sides have failed to secure survival, falling straight back down to the Championship. However, in Parker, Burnley have a manager with astute awareness of game situations, a dressing room leader, and most importantly, a tactically intelligent and flexible coach - all vital on a quest to Premier League safety.

Who is Burnley’s Player to Watch?

Maxime Esteve

With James Trafford leaving for the riches of Manchester City, the most important cog in Burnley's record breaking backline has abandoned them, leaving the job between the sticks to the recently acquired Max Weiss, who at the tender age of 21, has just four seasons of German second tier football under his belt.

🚨🗞️ Maxime Estève is set to sign a new and improved contract with Burnley, per Sky Sports News.

The deal reflects his growing importance to the club amid Premier League interest. Estève, 23, has impressed since joining in 2023, playing 46 games last season to help secure… pic.twitter.com/IFAeJviDSy

— The Burnley Way (@TheBurnleyWay) July 25, 2025

However, they have so far managed to hold on to another core component of their defence in French center back Maxime Esteve. The 23 year-old joined the Clarets in 2023/24 as they were relegated from the Premier League, but having had half a season to settle in, and presented with second tier attackers rather than the Premier League elite forwards, Esteve thrived, showing defensive dominance rarely seen in the Championship. Playing in all 46 second tier games, he was ever-present as Burnley shattered defensive records throughout the season, all the while honing his technique, and refining skills vital to Premier League survival.

Described as "unbelievable" by manager Scott Parker, Esteve's height and physicality make him a formidable opponent for any forward, while his ability to play out from the back must not be underestimated - with a 91% passing success ratio and averaging the most accurate passes of any Burnley player last season, Esteve is made for Premier League football. Whether Burnley survive or not, expect the Frenchman to do well.

Burnley 2025/26 Season Prediction

Prior to the various wheelings and dealings brought by the summer transfer window, the majority of football fans would almost certainly have predicted Burnley to drop straight back into the Championship - even more would have said the same thing after James Trafford's departure for Manchester City.

However, the Clarets are proving that the stigma around relegated sides not being able to compete is false - their summer signings are nothing short of outstanding: Chelsea duo Armando Broja and Lesley Ugochukwu both arrived as the clubs record signing, while the permanent acquisitions of Marcus Edwards, Bashir Humphrys, Jaidon Anthony and Zian Flemming ensured they kept some of last season's standout performers. One area they have not managed to bring in an adequate replacement is in goal, and in truth, any incoming keeper will struggle to fill Trafford's boots.

However, with how their transfer window has gone so far, it is clear that Burnley are not laying idle - at any rate, they have spent more, and acquired additional quality over rivals Leeds. However, it remains to be seen how such overhaul in such a short period affects their style. It will take some time for a few individuals to get up to speed, and if they fail to do so swiftly, it will likely already be too late.

Football Park's Prediction: 19th