Burnley striker Lyle Foster is on the brink of completing a return to the Premier League in a reported £25 million deal to smash the record as the most expensive South African footballer.
According to reports, newly-promoted side Ipswich Town are close to agreeing a £25 million deal with Burnley in a move that will see Foster make a sensational return to the Premier League.
Belgium football correspondent Sacha Tavolieri has reported that the 23-year-old is close to completing a move to Ipswich ahead of the Premier League’s fast-approaching transfer deadline day on Saturday 31 August.
“Lyle Foster now close to be loaned with a mandatory option to Ipswich Town. Obligation to buy fixed at £25M,” Tavolieri posted to his more than 115 000 followers on his official Twitter/X account.
🚨 EXCL. Lyle Foster now close to be loaned with a mandatory option to Ipswich Town !
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 27, 2024
💰 Obligation to buy fixed at £25M.
🗣️ Not a done deal yet but clubs are currently in advanced talks in order to find an agreement. #ITFC #BurnleyFC #mercato #twitterclarets pic.twitter.com/rwhnsiMCAv
Since completing a move to Turf Moor from KVC Westerlo at the start of the 2023/24 season, Foster has scored 6 goals alongside 5 assists in 44 appearances.
Following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship under Vincent Kompany, Foster has featured in three matches this campaign while registering one assist as Burnley recorded two wins with one defeat in their return to the second tier.
If Foster completes an expected return to the Premier League he would smash the record transfer fee paid for a South African footballer. The Bafana Bafana striker already holds the record after Burnley paid €7 million to Westerlo in 2023, which rose to €11 million after the Clarets secured promotion to the Premier League.
Another notable recent transfer for a South African footballer was the €3.2 million Brighton & Hove Albion paid for Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Percy Tau.
Top 10 record transfer fees paid for a South African footballer:
*Lyle Foster – £25 million (Burnley to Ipswich)
Lyle Foster – €11 million (Westerlo to Burnley)
Benni McCarthy – €6 million (Ajax Amsterdam to Celta Vigo)
Steven Pienaar – €5.75 million (Everton to Tottenham)
Lebo Mothiba – €4 million
Tokelo Rantie – €4 million
Benni McCarthy – €3.7 million (Porto to Blackburn)
Steven Pienaar – €3.6 million (Dortmund to Everton)
Benni McCarthy – €3.5 million (Celta Vigo to Porto)
Percy Tau – €3.2 million
Shaun Bartlett – €3 million
