- Andros Townsend had reached an agreement with Burnley in the summer
- The Clarets withdrew the offer after signing Luca Koleosho and Zeki Amdouni
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Andros Townsend has revealed he broke down in tears after a move to Burnley fell through last summer.
The 32-year-old looked set to join Vincent Kompany’s side as a free agent in the transfer window and had reached an agreement with the club after a successful trial period.
The winger trained with the Clarets this summer and featured in their pre-season matches as he tried to get fit after missing all of last season with a cruciate ligament injury.
However, Burnley withdrew the offer amid fears Townsend would restrict the development of young summer signings Luca Koleosho, 22, and Zeki Amdouni, 19.
And Townsend admitted it was a tough blow to be told he would not be joining Burnley.
Andros Townsend has revealed he was devastated after a move to Burnley fell through
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“If I was bad and knew I wouldn’t get a contract, I could prepare myself,” he said BBC Radio 5 Monday Night Club.
‘But to look at houses, look at schools, talk about squad numbers and then be told the contract is no longer on offer, it turned my world upside down.
“I’ve argued my point and put forward my case.
‘That I offer something different, that I feel comfortable as a team player and am good in the team, even when I am not playing.’
However, the former Spurs and Crystal Palace player admitted he understood why Kompany decided not to sign him.
“Burnley is a club that likes salable assets, so reluctantly I understand why he (Kompany) has made the decision not to block their path by signing a 32-year-old,” he said.
Townsend, who is still a free agent after leaving Everton at the end of last season, added that he was close to signing for a Turkish club on deadline day but the move never materialized.
“I was in Turkey all deadline day,” he explained.
Vincent Kompany’s team had agreed with the transfer-free player, but withdrew that offer
The 32-year-old has been training with the Clarets this summer and taking part in pre-season matches
“One agent said, ‘I got this deal 100 percent.’
“I waited all deadline day, but it didn’t happen. That was my month of people giving me false hope.”
Ties with a third division club in Saudi Arabia also proved fruitless.
“A random agent said he had a club in the third division of Saudi Arabia and the president was keen to sign me,” Townsend said.
‘After I slept on it, I felt like playing football again.
Townsend missed the entirety of last season due to an ACL injury he suffered in March 2022
“So I called him the next morning, the day of the Saudi deadline, and he said he would make an appointment.
“I was eventually told that the president was not signing any players and that the deadline had passed.”
Townsend last played in the Premier League in March last year before being ruled out for 18 months due to an ACL injury he sustained while playing for Everton against Palace in the FA Cup.
He played 45 minutes for Toffees Under-21 in May but left Goodison Park as his contract expired at the end of last season.