Ex-Sheffield United forward Oli McBurnie is set to move to Spanish side Las Palmas according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 28-year-old left The Blades this summer after five seasons with the club, notching up just shy of 150 appearances for United. He had a decent campaign for Chris Wilder’s side despite their relegation from the Premier League, scoring six times and adding three assists across 21 games.
A journeyman across the EFL, the Scottish international has also featured for Swansea City, Barnsley and Bradford City amongst others. He started life initially at Leeds United before coming through at the Bantams where he made 20 appearances before being sold to Swansea for £250,000.
Football journalist Fabrizio Romano revealed that McBurnie would be moving to Las Palmas this summer, with his medical at the La Liga side set for Friday. The Sheffield Star had previously reported that the striker had still appeared for The Blades’ pre-season training, igniting rumours he may remain at Bramall Lane despite being out of contract since the end of June.
United have already replaced the outgoing forward with Kieffer Moore from Bournemouth following his spell at Ipswich Town which secured them promotion to the top flight. Despite the Welshman’s arrival, a new offer was tabled to keep him at the club.
Las Palmas narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 16th out of 20 teams. Los Amarillos have former Tranmere Rovers youth player Marvin Park and ex-Cardiff City loanee Sory Kaba amongst their ranks.
Writer’s View
Transfer windows certainly throw up all sorts of surprises but Oli McBurnie’s move to Las Palmas will undoubtedly be one of the weirdest moves this summer. How he has ended up moving to the Canary Islands side is a mystery after receiving a new offer to remain at Bramall Lane recently.
McBurnie is still a strong striker though and will certainly pose a challenge to Spanish defenders who will not be used to the physicality of a player cut out of the EFL. He was still delivering for Sheffield United in a dire season for them in the Premier League, and the former Bristol Rovers loanee will be able to test that out in a new country.
Whilst some up-and-coming British talent does end up in Iberia such as Birmingham City‘s Jude Bellingham or one-time Norwich City loanee Marcus Edwards, it is odd to see players like the 28-year-old move to a European league. It is in the same vein as ex-Bolton Wanderers defender Alan Hutton’s loan move to Mallorca in 2013.
