Burnley have completed the signing of Middlesborough centre back Ben Gibson for a ‘joint club record fee,’ as he becomes the Clarets first signing of the summer.
Gibson signs a four year deal with the Clarets, and will return to the Premier League after spending last season in the Championship with Middlesbrough – who gave him his professional debut in 2011.
BREAKING: Clarets complete Ben Gibson signinghttps://t.co/mMpvMlm4YF
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 5, 2018
He spent loan spells with Plymouth Argyle, York City and Tranmere Rovers, before returning to establish himself as a first team player at Middlesborough in 2013/14, where he has played ever since.
The left-sided centre back – who has occasionally featured on the left of the back four – was an integral part of the Middlesborough team who won promotion to the Premier League in 2016, finishing second to Burnley, before being relegated the following season.
He was a mainstay in the Boro team who finished 5th in the Championship last season, earning himself flattering glances from a number of Premier League teams this summer – but it’s Burnley who have been able to get it over the line.
While they didn’t confirm the exact fee, ‘joint club record’ suggests it was around the £15m mark, given that’s what they paid for Chris Wood one year ago to break the club’s transfer record.
