Swansea City striker Oliver McBurnie has penned a new three-year contract at the club with the option of a further year, as revealed on the club’s official website and Twitter account.
The club website states that the 22-year-old forward, who stands at 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt) wanted to be assured by boss Graham Potter what type of role he would be playing under him before committing himself to the Swans, with talks resulting in a long-term deal at the Welsh side.
Congrats, @oli_mcburnie. ??????
Oli signs a new three-year deal. Full story ???? https://t.co/z35V79lqLX pic.twitter.com/UaO4vjzjRq
— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial) July 12, 2018
Having put pen to paper to his new contact, McBurnie, who spent time on loan at Barnsley last season, was quoted by the website as saying: “I want to play regular football. That was one of the key things for me. If you want to be playing international football, as I do, you need to be playing first-team football for your club.
“If you are not playing regularly, you are not going to get picked. I have only had four starts at Swansea. Now I want to prove myself to the gaffer and everyone else and show that I can be a mainstay in this team.”
OPINION
The news that McBurnie has penned a new deal will undoubtedly benefit both him and the club in the long-term. Boss Graham Potter will surely hand McBurnie a regular spot in the first team given the 19 goals he netted in all competitions last season – he would be mad not to. Following the Swans’ relegation to the Championship last season, he may prove pivotal in scoring the goals that will help them push for promotion back into the top flight next term. The young ace has experience in the Championship having played for Barnsley on loan in the second half of last season – and this will be significant in the final run-in. McBurnie thoroughly deserves this opportunity to have a shot at the senior squad, and there is no doubt he will live up to expectations and deliver the goods for his team. Now, all he has to do is score goals – and everyone knows he can do that.