Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ward cannot wait to return to the Barclays Premier League after completing a move to Burnley from Wolves on the eve of the new season.
The 28-year-old left-back, who has also been used further forward, has signed a three-year contract and becomes Sean Dyche’s seventh new recruit at Turf Moor.
Ward last played in the top flight when the Molineux club were relegated in 2011/12 and, following a two-year hiatus, which included spending last year on loan at Brighton, he is relishing the prospect of a return to the big time.
"I'm absolutely thrilled, I've had eight years at Wolves now and I was on loan at Brighton last year, but to start a new chapter in my career is great," he told Burnley's official website. "I don't think I could have picked a better place than Turf Moor and obviously to come to the Premier League is a massive pull as well.
“Once you get a taste of it you want to play as much Premier League football as you can.”
Ward was quietly impressed with what he saw as Burnley eased to automatic promotion last year and he believes they can surprise people again by staying up this year. He joins fellow new signings Lukas Jutkiewicz, Matthew Gilks, Michael Kightly, Steven Reid, Marvin Sordell and Matthew Taylor as Dyche boosts his ranks with players who almost all have Premier League experience.
“Burnley have done superbly well to get promoted and hopefully I can play some part in us having a successful year,” Ward added. “It’s a hungry squad that wants to stay in the Premier League for many years to come.”
