Burnley Announce Departure of 14 Players In Late June 2022

Burnley have announced that 14 players will depart the club upon expiry of their contracts on 30 June 2022.

The Clarets currently remain without a first-team manager following the decision to sack Sean Dyche in April, which was further compounded by relegation from the Premier League on the final day of 2021-22 season which dropped them into the Sky Bet Championship.

Defensive pairing of James Tarkowski and Ben Mee headline the list of departures, having scored a combined total of 19 goals in 595 appearances at the club.

Tarkowski joined from Brentford in February 2016 where he went on to establish himself as a first-team regular with seven goals in 2019 appearances, which led to two international appearances in 2018 for England.

Burnley confirmed that Tarkowski had ‘expressed his desire’ to depart the club earlier this season which they gracefully accepted.

Mee meanwhile had been part of Burnley since July 2011 initially on a season-long loan from Manchester City, which was converted into a permanent transfer in January 2012, with the central defender going on to score 12 goals in 376 appearances.

Both Tarkowski and Mee were also part of the Clarets’ promotion winning squad in 2015-16 Championship season.

Phil Bardsley and Erik Pieters will also leave the club after making 71 and 66 appearances across five and three seasons respectively, with Pieters also contributing two goals during his time at the club.

Dale Stephens has been released following two difficult seasons as he managed only 14 appearances in total with no goals, following his move from Brighton in September 2020 for an undisclosed fee.

Aaron Lennon also will depart after scoring three goals in 87 appearances across two spells at the club, having spent 2020-21 season at Turkey’s Kayserispor where he failed to score in 36 appearances prior to his return to Turf Moor.

Burnley have also confirmed that the following Under-23 players will be released at the end of their contracts later this month; Joel Mumbongo, Richard Nartey, Anthony Glennon, Ethen Vaughan, Sam Unwin, Anthony Gomez Mancini, Calen Gallagher-Allison, Joel Connolly and Harry Allen.

The club have meanwhile activated an option to keep Ashley Barnes for one further season, whilst discussions are underway with Matej Vydra and Jack Cork over new contracts.

Within the U23 squad, the following players have been offered new contracts; Finn Armstrong, Dara Costelloe, Rob Harker, Joe McGlynn, Jake Rooney and Ben Woods.

An option has also been activated to retain Ne-Jai Tucker and Max Thompson for one further season at the club.

Benn Ward, Sam Waller, Dan Sassi, Keelan Williams, Dane McCullough, Jacson Coppack, Will Hugill, Kade Ratchford and Jacob Hamilton meanwhile have seen their Under-18 scholarships extended for one more season.

Burnley have also announced that the following six scholars will be released at the end of June; Ruiari Behan, Will Couch, Sean Etaluku, Jack Leckie, Joe Smyth-Ferguson and George Walters.

The Clarets also issued the following statement addressing all departing players which read: “The Club would like to thank all departing players for their efforts during their time at Turf Moor and wish them well for the future.”