Burnley equal club record by swiping Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough
Burnley finally completed their first signing of the transfer window on Sunday by paying "a joint-club-record fee" for Middlesbrough center-back Ben Gibson.
The Clarets, whose season got underway last month with a Europa League tie against Scottish side Aberdeen, were yet to bring in a new player this summer, but have now signed Gibson to a four-year deal.
Meet the new boy! @bengibson1993 pic.twitter.com/dEFrt0MSfY
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 5, 2018
The club's transfer record is the reported £15 million paid to Leeds United for striker Chris Wood 12 months ago, and Burnley have confirmed the record fee has been matched.
Gibson, 25, returns to the Premier League following a brief one-year stay with Middlesbrough in 2016-17. He had spent his entire career to date with his now former club, save for sporadic loan spells away in the English lower leagues, and is the nephew of Boro chairman Steve Gibson. Over the last two seasons, he has missed a total of just 90 minutes of playing time in the league for the club.
He earned his first senior England call-up back in March 2017, although he is yet to make his debut for his country, and will now get the chance to test himself again in the top flight, not to mention the Europa League.