Burnley won promotion to the Premier League on the back of a record-breaking defence but one player who was key to the team’s backline looks set to leave.
CJ Egan-Riley is reportedly ready to sign a 5-year deal with Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg in Ligue 1. Egan-Riley, who is out of contract, is understood to have found the lure of immediate European football to good to turn down, should the French team qualify.
The 22-year-old has been hugely important, partnering with Maxime Esteve in central defence for the Clarets as they secured second place. Egan-Riley has played 43 times in all competitions this campaign, netting one goal and assist.
CJ Egan-Riley in the Championship
| Games | Clean Sheets | Goals | Assists |
| 41 | 32 | 1 | 1 |
Egan-Riley joined Burnley from Manchester City in 2022. After playing just six times in the first half of the campaign, the defender joined SPL side Hibernian for the remainder of the year, playing 14 times.
After returning to Turf Moor for a short period of time, the young defender was loaned out once again, this time joining Dutch giants PSV. Despite high hopes for the player, Egan-Riley was perennially used for the teams B-Team, Jong PSV.
After returning to the northwest once again, Egan-Riley finally made a breakthrough in the first team, becoming one of manager Scott Parker’s go to men in his defence.
After being a mainstay in the divisions best defence, the player leaves Parker and Burnley with a huge hole to fill in their back line.
For the second season in a row, the three teams promoted to the Premier League have failed to stay up, Burnley will understand that finding the best possible replacement or even finding an upgrade on Egan-Riley will be imperative for the side to have any chance of survival.
