Andros Townsend left in tears after Premier League club 'ripped up contract'

26 September 2023 , 09:40

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Andros Townsend left in tears after Premier League club 'ripped up contract'

Andros Townsend thought he was about to secure another Premier League move this summer - only to be left distraught when an offer was scrapped at the 11th hour.

The 32-year-old left Crystal Palace for Everton two years ago, and made 21 league appearances as Frank Lampard's side survived relegation by the skin of their teeth. But an anterior cruciate ligament injury then left him on the sidelines for the entire 2023-24 campaign, leaving his career in doubt.

However, the former England international was thrown a lifeline this summer by Burnley, and was invited to train with Vincent Kompany's team following their promotion from the Championship. After reportedly impressing in a pre-season clash with Real Betis, he'd seemingly earned a contract offer from the Clarets.

However, with Townsend thinking a deal was all but signed and sealed, the offer was scrapped. And that development has left the former Spurs, Newcastle, and Crystal Palace star in limbo both personally and professionally.

"To get offered a contract, to get to the day you're signing the contract, and you're just waiting for the paperwork to come through...." he told BBC Radio 5's Monday Night Club. "And then to be told that contract is being ripped away from you.

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"Honestly, I left that conversation in tears. I was literally in tears because I felt like my Premier League dream was over. And yeah, it was one of the toughest moments of my career."

And Townsend revealed he had even gone as far as to withdraw his daughter from school on Merseyside, and had lined up a place to live in Lancashire. He also insinuated his pre-season form had justified being offered a permanent deal.

Townsend in action for Burnley against Real Betis in pre-season (Antonio Pozo / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport)

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"If I was bad and knew I wasn't going to get a contract I could prepare myself," he added. "But to be looking at houses, looking at schools, talking about squad numbers and then to be told the contract is no longer on offer, it rocked my world. It took me a week or so to get my head around it and process what happens next."

Townsend revealed he even argued he would be happy to be a squad player under Kompany, but to no avail. And he also conceded that the Belgian's decision was understandable given his desire to bring younger players through.

And there's been no salvation since for Townsend, who also described how he spent the whole of deadline day in Turkey in readiness to join a club, but a move never materialised. He was then the subject of interest from a club in Saudi Arabia, but again, no deal went through.

Fraser Watson