EFL star runs down contract and set to join European chasing club on five-year deal

Burnley are set to lose CJ Egan-Riley on a free transfer after the defender has run down his contract. The Clarets are on their way up to the Premier League, but Egan-Riley will not be with them as he is close to joining Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. Egan-Riley has been key to Burnley’s rock solid defenceGetty The 22-year-old has been offered a five-year deal with Liam Rosenior’s side. The defender is thought to have been recommended to Strasbourg by sister-club Chelsea, with both clubs owned by the BlueCo group. Financially, the Clarets wouldn’t make a loss on Egan-Riley, given he joined the club back in 2022 on a free transfer. He started his career at Manchester City and made his senior debut in 2021, after training with the club for over a decade. Strasbourg are on track to finish the season in the top six of Ligue 1, meaning the prospect of European football is on the cards for the centre-back if he moved. The BlueCo-owned club need a win or a draw against bottom-of-the-league Le Havre in the final game of the season on Saturday to secure their place. This season Egan-Riley, alongside centre-back Maxime Esteve and goalkeeper James Trafford, was influential in Burnley’s 30 clean sheets. Burnley face losing important members of the promotion-winning squad and the club might be tasked with filling more than just one gap over the summer. Back in February, talkSPORT reported that Burnley would demand £30million for James Trafford. Newcastle were confident of finally signing Trafford this summer after several previous failed attempts to take him away from Turf Moor. Egan-Riley (right) played 41 times in the Championship this seasonGetty Trafford has conceded just 12 goals all season – less than half of his nearest rivalsRex After a record-breaking season and reaching 100 points, Burnley were forced to settle for second place behind Leeds United due to an inferior goal difference. Across all 46 matches in the Championship this season, Burnley lost on just two occasions and became the ever team in England’s top four tiers to amass 100 points and not win the title. After securing promotion, Burnley manager Scott Parker told talkSPORT: “I’m a pretty emotional guy to be honest with you. So yeah, insane. “100 points this year, two defeats all season, the record in terms of 33 undefeated, goals we’ve conceded. “Any other year would have probably been enough to win the title. “It’s not been the case, but nothing short of proud and pretty remarkable what we’ve done this year.” Looking ahead towards the 2025/25 campaign, Parker’s side has already secured the signing of four loaned players. Just hours after securing promotion, Marcus Edwards, Jaidon Anthony, Bashir Humphreys and Zian Flemming were all signed permanently after successful loan spells at the club. The four transfers back in April saw the Clarets spend almost £40m for the quartet.

May 14, 2025 - 15:08

EFL star runs down contract and set to join European chasing club on five-year deal

Burnley are set to lose CJ Egan-Riley on a free transfer after the defender has run down his contract.

The Clarets are on their way up to the Premier League, but Egan-Riley will not be with them as he is close to joining Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

Egan-Riley has been key to Burnley’s rock solid defence

The 22-year-old has been offered a five-year deal with Liam Rosenior’s side.

The defender is thought to have been recommended to Strasbourg by sister-club Chelsea, with both clubs owned by the BlueCo group.

Financially, the Clarets wouldn’t make a loss on Egan-Riley, given he joined the club back in 2022 on a free transfer.

He started his career at Manchester City and made his senior debut in 2021, after training with the club for over a decade.

Strasbourg are on track to finish the season in the top six of Ligue 1, meaning the prospect of European football is on the cards for the centre-back if he moved.

The BlueCo-owned club need a win or a draw against bottom-of-the-league Le Havre in the final game of the season on Saturday to secure their place.

This season Egan-Riley, alongside centre-back Maxime Esteve and goalkeeper James Trafford, was influential in Burnley’s 30 clean sheets.

Burnley face losing important members of the promotion-winning squad and the club might be tasked with filling more than just one gap over the summer.

Back in February, talkSPORT reported that Burnley would demand £30million for James Trafford.

Newcastle were confident of finally signing Trafford this summer after several previous failed attempts to take him away from Turf Moor.

Egan-Riley (right) played 41 times in the Championship this season

Trafford has conceded just 12 goals all season – less than half of his nearest rivals

After a record-breaking season and reaching 100 points, Burnley were forced to settle for second place behind Leeds United due to an inferior goal difference.

Across all 46 matches in the Championship this season, Burnley lost on just two occasions and became the ever team in England’s top four tiers to amass 100 points and not win the title.

After securing promotion, Burnley manager Scott Parker told talkSPORT: “I’m a pretty emotional guy to be honest with you. So yeah, insane.

“100 points this year, two defeats all season, the record in terms of 33 undefeated, goals we’ve conceded.

“Any other year would have probably been enough to win the title.

“It’s not been the case, but nothing short of proud and pretty remarkable what we’ve done this year.”

Looking ahead towards the 2025/25 campaign, Parker’s side has already secured the signing of four loaned players.

Just hours after securing promotion, Marcus Edwards, Jaidon Anthony, Bashir Humphreys and Zian Flemming were all signed permanently after successful loan spells at the club.

The four transfers back in April saw the Clarets spend almost £40m for the quartet.