Jonjo Shelvey speaks for the first time on becoming the surprise signing for Championship club Burnley this January transfer window.
The 32-year-old becomes Scott Parker’s third signing of the month, joining on a short-term deal until the end of the 2024/25 season.
He had been released by Eyüpspor earlier this month, and prior that, with another Turkish club in Çaykur Rizespor. But he returns to English football after an 18 month stint in Turkey.
You can watch the way in which Burnley revealed him on Twitter, and the new signing giving his first sit down interview below…
Shush, nobody knows 👀 pic.twitter.com/1yhmy3Zup8
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 20, 2025
We are pleased to confirm the signing of experienced midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on a deal until the end of the season.
Welcome to the Clarets, Jonjo 🤝
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 20, 2025
STATEMENT:
Experienced midfielder becomes third signing of January transfer window
Burnley Football Club are pleased to confirm the signing of experienced midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on a deal until the end of the season.
The 32-year-old comes to Turf Moor after his contract with Turkish Süper Lig side Eyüpspor recently expired and joins the Clarets having made over 450 career appearances to date.
After joining up with Scott Parker’s side, the former Newcastle United and Liverpool man said: “It feels amazing to get it done. It’s been quite a long process, but it’s all done now and I’m excited for it.
“I like the Club as a whole, every time I have played against Burnley at Turf Moor it’s been tough, but I’m part of this team now and my aim is to do my best to help this Club get back into the Premier League, where it belongs.”
London-born, Shelvey started his football life in the academies of Arsenal and West Ham United, before moving to Charlton Athletic as a youngster in 2004.
After progressing through the academy ranks with the Addicks, the midfielder made his senior debut in April 2008, becoming the club’s youngest-ever player, shortly after turning 16.
Two seasons within the first team set-up at the Valley saw Shelvey become Charlton’s youngest-ever goalscorer in 2009 and then earn himself a move to Premier League side Liverpool.
He made his debut for the Reds in a League Cup tie in 2010 and went on to feature over 65 times during his three-year spell at Anfield, scoring seven goals. His time at Liverpool also included a brief loan stint at Blackpool and a senior England call-up in 2012, gaining his first cap as a substitute in a 5-0 win against San Marino.
The centre-midfielder left Liverpool in the summer of 2013 to sign for Swansea City, where he went on to play all but six games in the top-flight during his first season in South Wales.
After three years with Swansea, scoring 10 goals in just under 100 appearances and gaining five further England caps, Shelvey moved on to Newcastle United in January 2016.
He made his Magpies debut in a win over West Ham United and although the club were relegated, he helped them bounce straight back up from the Championship the following season.
Five further years in the Premier League and over 200 appearances with Newcastle followed, before a move to Nottingham Forest in January 2023.
He now becomes Burnley’s third signing of the January window, after spending the last 18 months in the Turkish Süper Lig with Çaykur Rizespor and most recently Eyüpspor.
Scott Parker spoke about the club’s decision to sign Shelvey, per Burnley Express: “It suits both parties at this present moment in time.
“From my side, Jonjo came in last week to train with us and we instantly saw his quality.
“He’s a guy that’s had many years in and around it and he’s still what, 32? So he’s not at the back end of it. He’s still got plenty left in him.
“He went off to Turkey and he’s come back and I think we’ve seen, or certainly I’ve seen in three or four training sessions, and what I know of him and watching from him from afar, the quality he possesses.
“I think he helps us. I think he probably brings a little bit of something different to maybe what we’ve got in those positions.
“He brings experience and something to prove as well, coming back to England, so I’m delighted to have Jonjo with us now.
“Obviously he needs some training now to get him up to speed and hopefully he can have a big impact on the current squad.
“On the pitch, there’s X amount of games underneath Jonjo, he knows his way around a football pitch and he knows his way around promotion teams or teams that want to be operating in the top end of the league.
“I see him bringing huge qualities on the pitch for us. I think he offers something probably a little bit different to what we have.
“Obviously off the pitch, it goes without saying we have a young squad that are going to need senior players who have been around it to support and help get us through these next 20-odd games.”
On how the move came about, Parker added: “He’s not someone I knew. It came about via some people who obviously suggested that maybe it could be an option and I liked the idea.
“Full credit to Jonjo. I asked if he could come in and train with us and there’s probably a lot of players that wouldn’t have. In fact, I’ve had many a player in my time turn down that opportunity to come in and train for many reasons.
“Jonjo was the first to say: ‘of course I will if you need to see me’. He’s done that, hence why now he’s signed and he’s part of our group.”
Twitter users reacted as Jonjo Shelvey speaks for first time on becoming a surprise signing for Burnley…
@Nottsclassics: He’s horrendous your lucky it’s only until end of the season
@ClaretJD: On a free so can’t complain.
@burnleyboy82: It’s a no lose signing. He comes on a free till end of the season so no real financial impact. I just can’t see where he fits into the side. Will he be happy sat on the bench playing last 20 mins every other week. Not sure 🤔
@Overthegiantree: Surprised he’s still bald after time in Turkey
@RalphVixCPA: I hope the women of Burley are ready to watch some YouTube highlights post club.
@Bigkev1346: Class signing that
@joetopping__: not quite sure that we’ve ever been more back
@swanspassion: He may well have been a loose cannon and wanted to fight us Swansea fans that day on Oxford but my god he’s exactly the sort of player we need in that midfield now. Someone who can put a tackle in show some attitude and will have a shot from range
@Forest_Review: Well, I wasn’t expecting that! 😂
@ArgyleLife1886: How do you manage to go to Turkey and still come back bald?
@Itzhazza12: the most burnley signing ever. love it
@producerrobbo: Signing for Burnley from Eyupspor feels… right.
@LufcHwick: Interesting. Now it depends what his legs are like but I’ve always rated shelvey. Great pass & strike on him but like I said let’s see what his stamina/can he play consistently
@MathewForth: Again, if we miss out on promotion when our rivals are signing players like this then Farke should never manage a serious club again.
@Callum_UTC: Leeds don’t need anyone, sheff United strengthening up top and we sign Jonjo fucking shelvey. Playoffs it is #twitterclarets
@JMorris21388: without a doubt the most burnley signing i’ve ever seen in my life 🤣
@lufccalum: I obviously want us to make one or two signings, but id rather sign no one than sign Ashley Barnes and Jonjo Shelvey in the same month
@JCJJMB: One of the most entertaining players we’ve ever had. You’d never know if what he was about to do next would be sublime or mental.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login