Burnley striker Wout Weghorst has revealed it was his boyhood dream to play in the Premier League, something he is now doing with the Turf Moor side, most recently against Brighton & Hove Albion.
The giant striker joined the Clarets in a £12.6m deal from Wolfsburg in the January transfer window as a replacement for Chris Wood, who joined Newcastle.
Sean Dyche’s side are hoping he can replicate the form that he has showed in both the Netherlands and Germany, where he was a regular goalscorer for Alkmaar and Wolfsburg.
His move to the Premier League has been long in the making, with him regularly linked with a transfer to England over the last few years.
Indeed, he was seemingly very close to joining Tottenham on more than one occasion, but ultimately it is Burnley who have made his dream come true.
“I really wanted to play in England. That’s how I once planned it,” he told De Telegraaf.
“The experience with supporters who sit close to the field and intensely sympathise is very special to me. It really breathes football.
“It is also a step up from Germany. It is next level in terms of pace, intensity and physicality.”
A run of three games without a goal had led to some fears that Burnley had bought but a dud, but they were categorically dispelled at the weekend.
A goal and an assist in the 3-0 win over Brighton could very much be considered as him announcing himself to the division, with Burnley fans hoping there is more to come.
Despite his lack of goals, it’s fair to say that Weghorst has instantly made himself a fan favourite, with his huge stature and more traditional style, something that has captured the imagination.
Indeed, he also appears to have earned himself something of a fanbase among other clubs fans, which was seen when he was also applauded by Brighton fans over the weekend, something the player admits he’d not seen before.
“It was a great weekend, the first win, the first goal. It’s nice to be so important for the team,” he added.
“I got a chorus of applause, and not only the away team clapped and sang, but also the home supporters of Brighton gave me an applause. That was very special. I had never experienced that before.”
