Burnley have completed the signing of Erik Pieters from Stoke City on a two-year deal with an option to extend it for one more year and the player will be back playing in the Premier League.
Sean Dyche was keen to bolster his defensive ranks before the start of the new season and the addition of such an experienced player will be a boon for the club.
The Clarets finished fifteenth in the Premier League in the previous campaign but must be aiming for a much higher spot on the table this time around, given the flashes of competence shown by the team especially against the big clubs.
Despite being hailed as a defensive team, Burnley conceded as many as 68 goals in the league and that needs to be improved before Dyche can move on to other areas of the pitch.
Erik Pieters: Profile
Pieters emerged through the youth ranks of Dutch outfit Utrecht and after having represented their senior side, he switched to the ranks of PSV Eindhoven.
In the summer of 2013, he was introduced to the English football by Stoke City and has carved a name for himself as a decent full-back.
During the first half of last season, he made 21 appearances in the Championship and managed to muster 2.3 tackles and 3.4 clearances per game on an average.
He was shipped out on loan to Ligue 1 side Amiens for the second half, wherein he managed 15 appearances and churned 3.3 tackles on an average every game.
Despite his form, Stoke City manager Nathan Jones had made it clear that Pieters was no longer needed at bet365 Stadium which led to his subsequent exit.
What will he add to Burnley?
Burnley have Charlie Taylor in their arsenal but with the entry of Pieters, a healthy competition for a place in the starting line-up should spark an improvement in displays from either player.
Pieters is undoubtedly an experienced campaigner, having also represented the Dutch national side on 18 occasions and the bulk of knowledge he has could be useful for Burnley.
His versatility would also be appreciated by Dyche as he is capable enough to ply his trade in the midfield as well.
The 30-year-old is renowned for his defensive prowess and he will inject some much-needed resilience in the Burnley backline. He is a decisive tackler and has an imposing physicality.
Besides, he is good in the air, hardly gives away possession to the opposition erroneously and having played five seasons in the Premier League, is a solid addition to the Burnley senior team.
