Burnley 2025/26 Season Preview
Return to the Premier League — A Tough Task Ahead
Burnley are back in the Premier League after finishing second in the Championship. This isn’t new for them — they have bounced between the two leagues in recent years, proving too strong for the Championship but finding the Premier League much harder to handle.
New Manager, Solid Defence, But Key Departures
Under new manager Scott Parker, Burnley will take a pragmatic approach and rely heavily on strong defensive play, which helped them dominate last season. However, they lost two key defensive players — CJ Egan-Riley left, and goalkeeper James Trafford returned to Manchester City.
Experience Brought In, But Attack Looks Fragile
To reinforce the back line, Burnley signed veteran defenders Kyle Walker and Axel Tuanzebe. They bring leadership and Premier League know-how, which will be crucial for survival. Still, going forward Burnley may struggle — Josh Brownhill, their top scorer and captain, also left the club.
Young Hope and Returning Talent
There is some cause for cautious optimism. Young striker Joe Westley impressed in pre-season and may get a chance to shine. Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey is recovering from a long-term injury and could play a key role if he returns to form.
At least defensively, Maxime Estève has committed his future to the club by signing a new five-year deal.
Off-Pitch Developments
Burnley’s ownership group, ALK Capital, is expanding its football operations and are in the process of taking over Espanyol, creating a potential multi-club structure. However, that won’t affect their immediate league survival push.
Prediction
Given Burnley’s reliance on a rebuilt defence, recent departures of key players, and the thin attacking options, survival in the Premier League will be a very steep climb. A realistic outcome for the season is a 20th-place finish, which would likely mean relegation, unless their defence holds firm and new arrivals step up quickly.
