Burnley‘s Quilindschy Hartman has opened up about Chelsea and Arsenal interest and says he has no regrets over missing out on a big move.
The left-back joined Burnley from Feyenoord in June 2025. Both Chelsea and Arsenal had looked at him while he was at the Eredivisie side.
Hartman is a product of the Dutch club’s youth system and made his first team debut in September 2022. He was a regular and his performances for Feyenoord had caught the Blues and the Gunners’ interest.
The fullback made 83 appearances for the Eredivisie side, managing two goals and 12 assists. Both Chelsea and Mikel Arteta’s side would have explored the possibility of signing him in 2024.
Why Chelsea and Arsenal didn’t sign Burnley man
In February 2025, the Dutchman had confirmed Chelsea wanted to sign him while he was at Feyenoord. A move never took shape because he suffered a serious knee injury in March 2024.
The setback forced Quilindschy Hartman to spend 307 days on the sidelines. This meant he couldn’t move to Stamford Bridge or Arsenal.
Last May, Sport Witness covered a report from the Dutch media about a fresh approach from the Blues. A move didn’t go through, and months later, Burnley secured his services.
He played 23 matches in his debuts eason for the Clarets, who dropped out of the Premier League. In the summer, Nicky Hayen’s side let him join Espanyol on loan.
Hartman on Chelsea and Arsenal + Burnley future
The Clarets fullback is preparing for Espanyol’s clash against Atlético Madrid later today. Ahead of this tie, AS spoke to Quilindschy Hartman to discuss several topics, including the two London clubs.
AS points out that before his serious setback in 2024, there was ‘strong talk that Chelsea and Arsenal were interested in you…’
Responding to that, he said: “Yes. That’s life. But going to one place or another doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve had better luck. I think we all have a plan that’s already written. I never think about what could have been, because my life is already perfect.”
The Dutchman admits he wouldn’t have joined Espanyol had then dropped to the second division. The La Liga side signed him on loan for a season without a purchase clause. With his contract at Burnley until 2029, he’s not sure where his future lies after the loan spell.
“Probably not, but because I think it would have been financially impossible. Besides, we all want to play at the highest level,” Hartman explained.
On his future after this season, he added: “The truth is, I have no idea. In football, tomorrow is a long way off, so I think you have to focus on the present. We’ll see: I might stay or I might come back, it will depend on what Burnley does and what Espanyol does. And it will also depend on whether Espanyol likes me.”
Career stats & achievements
| Club | Years | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feyenoord | 2022–2025 | 83 | 2 | 12 |
| Burnley | 2025–present | 23 | 0 | 5 |
| Espanyol (loan) | 2026–present | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Club total | 110 | 2 | 17 | |
| Achievement | Club | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Eredivisie champion | Feyenoord | 2022/23 |
| KNVB Cup winner | Feyenoord | 2023/24 |
Youth and reserve appearances excluded. Assists follow Opta definitions.
Hartman missed the 2024 KNVB Cup final through injury.· Updated 17 October 2026
