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Burnley have signed Armando Broja (from Chelsea) on a permanent transfer. The Albanian joined Chelsea from Tottenham as an eight-year-old in 2009, before coming through the Blues' academy to the first team, where he made 38 appearances and scored nine goals.
However, Broja, a striker born in England but representing Albania, the country of his parents' origin, has had several loan spells away from west London, most recently at Everton last season. After signing a contract and being presented at the new club's premises, Broja gave his first interview as a Burnley player:
Armando, welcome to Burnley. How does it feel to have just signed a 5-year contract?
It's a fantastic feeling. I'm definitely very, very happy to be here. I can't wait to get started, to meet all the players, everyone, the training facilities are incredible. So I can't wait to be on the pitch and in front of the fans.
You are joining the club at a very exciting time, obviously with promotion to the Premier League secured last season. Why did you feel that now was the right time to make this move?
Of course I know Burnley is a really good club, they have a lot of exciting young talent. You can see in the transfer market this season that they have a lot of exciting young talent. Of course I fall into that category. I wanted to come here and, like I said, get people excited, score goals, do my job. I feel like this is a great club for me to develop, to grow as a player, to grow as a person. It's a really good, family-like club. Everyone is really close and they get along really well together. So yeah, I'm looking forward to being on the pitch.
You talked a little bit about the togetherness, the family feel, and the environment that coach Scott Parker, in particular, has created here. Did that play a big role in your decision to come to that kind of environment? Do you feel comfortable in it?
Absolutely. I mean that's one of the biggest factors anywhere you join, to have a really good environment. It's a key point and here the environment is great. You know, all the players are great, the staff are great, the manager, the facilities. So it all comes together to make one piece. And of course, as I said, everyone made me feel at home as soon as I arrived. Everyone has welcomed me to the club really well, getting on with everyone. So, yeah, it's really great to be part of Burnley.
What also helps is that you're joining a team where you know some of the players. Of course, Lesli (Ugeçuku) joined us this week from Chelsea. Did you speak to any of the players before you decided to come here?
Yes, I did. Everyone was saying great things about the club. They've been here a lot longer than I have, but they know the club very well and they know the philosophy of it, how it works and how it's run. So, yeah, they gave me a little insight into it and it sounded really good. You know, it's a great opportunity for me, a great opportunity for the club as well, to be back in the Premier League, where it belongs, to move forward.
And coach, Scott Parker, was he a big factor in your coming here?
Of course. I mean the coach is the key point, his style of football and the way he treats the players and the person he is. Everyone says very good things about him. He is a very nice person, so he is very easy to talk to, easy to get along with. The coach is very demanding at the same time, so that is what is needed, you need both sides of the coin. Of course that played a big role in my decision to come here.
We're a week away from the start of the new season, have you started to get excited about it? You'll be playing away to Tottenham, one of Chelsea's rivals as well. Maybe it'll be a little more exciting for you?
Yes, I mean it's always nice to play against Tottenham and in big games like this. So, yes, it's a great start, as I said. We know it's a tough game from the start, but we'll definitely go into it with confidence, trying to get the three points. It would be a great start if we win. However, it's definitely going to be an exciting season.
Your name has been linked to us over the last two weeks. This has excited our fans. What would be your message to them, before you debut very soon with the new club?
I just want to thank all the fans for their support, I'm excited to be here. I can't wait to get them excited too.
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