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Burnley snap up 16-year-old Callum West from non-league Macclesfield
Burnley have moved to bolster their academy with the signing of Macclesfield FC midfielder Callum West, as confirmed by the non-league club.
The starlet played a vital role in helping the Silkmen win the North West Counties Premier Division and his ability has been spotted by the Clarets who were quick to move in making the deal happen.
A compensation fee will be paid to the now eighth tier side aligning with West’s progression at Turf Moor and director of football Robbie Savage couldn’t be happier for the teenager.
“Whilst I am saddened to lose Callum, I am absolutely delighted that he has secured such a prestigious move,” Savage said on the club’s official website.
“I have seen Callum develop into a player who has matured well beyond his years and I will be monitoring how he progresses at Turf Moor very closely.
“I wish both Callum and his family every success in the future.”
Long term
The majority of summer signings are often done to immediately impact the senior team and that is even more so the case in the Premier League with such a big amount of money at stake for remaining in the division.
West won’t be that kind of signing and it could be a good four or five years before we see him getting close to an appearance for the Clarets.
He might sneak onto the bench for a Carabao Cup game in the early rounds a touch earlier but we can’t be expecting magical things from him so early on in his career.
Alternatively, he might end up in the first team sooner than expected and shine as brightly as he has in the ninth tier this season and everyone will be clamouring over his talent and lauding Burnley’s clever business.
But before we start picturing him scoring on his Turf Moor debut, let’s just allow him to develop as a player and a person and find his own way, whether that be through academy football or a loan back to non-league for next season.
In other Burnley news, Sunderland’s Dan Neil is still on the Clarets’ radar despite the exit of Sean Dyche.