Burnley executed a remarkable piece of transfer business in 2024, effectively doubling their investment in young French player Wilson Odobert within a single year. Signed as a teenager relatively early in his career, Odobert has since moved on to achieve silverware following his departure from Turf Moor.
After securing promotion back to the Premier League in 2023 by comfortably winning the Championship title with an impressive 101 points, Burnley faced the challenge of significantly strengthening their squad. Recognizing the ever-widening gap between the Championship and the top flight, there was considerable work required to prepare for the higher level.
Despite Burnley`s eventual relegation at the end of the season, Odobert proved to be a standout performer for the Clarets. His promising displays attracted significant attention, culminating in a big-money transfer that not only propelled him towards the elite level of English football but also yielded a substantial profit for his former club.
Odobert`s Journey from PSG to Burnley
Odobert began his footballing journey in the youth academy at Paris Saint-Germain. However, he opted against signing a professional contract there in January 2022, choosing instead to join Troyes to kickstart his senior career. His 32 appearances in Ligue 1 were successful enough to draw considerable interest from clubs abroad.
It was Burnley who acted decisively, reportedly paying €12 million (£10.1 million) to bring him to Turf Moor ahead of their return to the Premier League. In early October, Odobert marked his first Premier League start by scoring his debut goal for the club in a 4-1 loss to Chelsea, becoming Burnley`s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer in the process. He concluded the season with 29 appearances and three goals for the Clarets.
Although Odobert impressed, his contributions were not enough to prevent Burnley`s relegation. The club spent the entire season in the relegation zone, ultimately finishing 19th. Odobert remained with the club through the start of the subsequent season, even finding the net in their opening Championship fixture of the 2024/25 campaign against Luton Town.
Transition to Tottenham and Impact
Just four days after scoring in the Championship, Odobert completed a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur in North London. Reports indicated the move progressed rapidly, with Odobert signing a five-year contract for a fee potentially reaching £25 million including add-ons.
Despite being sidelined by injuries from September through February, Odobert has demonstrated his quality and value to Spurs. He managed to make 16 Premier League appearances and scored twice in their Europa League Round of 16 tie against AZ Alkmaar, though he was an unused substitute in their final victory over Manchester United.
Meanwhile, Burnley achieved another swift return to the Premier League, finishing second in the Championship with another impressive points tally. Having more than doubled the fee they paid for Odobert just 12 months prior, the club appears not to have been negatively impacted by his departure during their successful promotion campaign. The £25 million deal represents excellent business for Burnley.
