Joe Hart has officially joined Burnley for a £3.5 million fee ending a 12 year spell at Manchester City after being frozen out by Pep Guardiola.
BREAKING: Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of England international Joe Hart on an initial two-year deal. More to follow. pic.twitter.com/bkyAuXKlMS
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) August 7, 2018
The 31-year-old England international has signed a two year deal with the Clarets and will be hoping to find regualr first team football for the first time in a few years.
Hart joined City back in 2006 where he made a total of 266 appearances winning two Premier Leagues, two League Cups, one FA Cup and a Community Shield.
The arrival of Guardiola began the demise for the City legend as Claudio Bravo joined the club to become the first choice keeper. This saw Hart spend a season on loan to Torino in 2016/17 where he made 36 appearances.
Bravo’s struggles in the league would have ignited some hope for Hart to rejuvenate his career, but the acquisition of Ederson Moraes quickly put an end to that idea as the still England number one at the time was forced to join West Ham where he made just 19 appearances.
Hart will face some stiff competition at Burnley as Tom Heaton is set to make his return from injury whilst Nick Pope had a tremendous season which saw him earn a spot in the World Cup squad ahead of Hart.
Pope however, has been ruled out for up to six months with a dislocated shoulder while Heaton is nursing a calf-strain and so Hart may be inline to make his debut as early as this Thursday in Burnley’s Europa League qualification match against Istanbul Basaksehir.