Kompany target explains why he rejected Burnley before sealing £2m move

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Former Arsenal defender Dan Ballard admits he held talks with Premier League newcomers Burnley before joining Sunderland in a £2 million deal last summer. 

And while Tony Mowbray’s Black Cats might have missed out on promotion – losing to Luton Town in the Championship play-off semi-final – few would argue that Dan Ballard made the wrong call.

Alongside Amad Diallo, Anthony Patterson, Dan Neil and co, the 23-year-old Northern Ireland international fit this Sunderland side like a glove. Slotting in neatly alongside a crop of exciting, up-and-comers at the Stadium of Light. 

Ballard might not be playing Premier League football in 2023/24 – choosing Sunderland over Championship champions Burnley – but, should he maintain his current rate of progress, the one-time Arsenal youngster will be gracing England’s top flight sooner rather than later. 

Dan Ballard chose Sunderland over Burnley

“(Vincent Kompany) was very complimentary,” Ballard recalls, via The Athletic. “He said it was one of the positions he wanted to nail down. He felt I could perform what he wanted to do on the ball.” 

As you might expect given his Arsenal roots, Ballard is a centre-half comfortable with the ball at his feet. And any defender hoping to thrive under Kompany must be not only the last line of defence but the first line of attack. 

“Burnley had just come down from the Premier League. And Sunderland had just come up from League One. But felt I could play more of a pivotal role at Sunderland,” Ballard adds.

“Burnley have had a great season getting promotion but I feel that I’m a big part of the team.

“My whole career I have gone into games nervous and unsure; ‘Oh, he’s a quick striker, I need to be careful’, ‘If I get the ball where am I going to play it?’.

“I had these worries. But, during this season, I feel really confident in myself for the first time. It’s exciting going into games now.”

Burnley cruised to the second-tier title with Jordan Beyer and Taylor Harwood-Bellis shining on loan at Turf Moor. Beyer has already returned to Turf Moor on a permanent basis from Borussia Monchengladbach.