Who Is Armando Broja and Why Did He Join Burnley?

Chelsea boyhood product Armando Broja announced an agreement Friday to join top-flight side about-to-be-promoted Burnley on a five-year contract.

The amount paid was not revealed although British media published a report that Burnley are to pay its fellow top flight contender Chelsea an initial 10 million pounds ($13.4 million) with an extra 5 million pounds ($6.7 million) in add-ons. Having joined Chelsea at the tender age of eight in the year 2009 after leaving Tottenham, Broja progressed through the Blues academy all the way to the first-team where he played 38 matches and scored nine goals.

But Broja is an English born attacker who plays at Albania, the homeland of his parents, and has been on loan since he made his debut some years ago at Stamford Bridge, most recently last season with Everton.

The Toffees, however, chose not to make the transfer permanent and with Chelsea splashing the cash on signing forwards Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, Broja has chosen to move on Stamford Bridge.

Speaking in a statement, the 23-year-old player said, who has also had a stint with Southampton and Fulham in the premier league, that he is very excited to be part of a Burnley player. It is an excellent moment to be joining such a club before the next season in the premier league begins. I cannot delay to start.

I´m feeling good, I am fit, I am ready and I am excited about the prospect of playing to this club. All I can say is that I will be going with my heart in it every time I wear the famous claret shirt.

Along with Bashir Humphreys and Lesley Ugochukwu who Burnley have signed during the off-season, the two clubs have a need to strengthen their sides as they rejoin English football at the top level.