Vydra joins Burnley as defender Mee extends stay

LONDON: Burnley have signed Czech forward Matej Vydra from second-tier side Derby on a threeyear deal, the Premier League club announced.

The 26-year-old, who scored a league- leading 21 goals in the Championship last season, will be hoping to have a bigger impact on the English top flight than he did in previous disappointing spells in the Premier League with Watford and West Brom.

Burnley, who have already signed centreback Ben Gibson from Middlesbrough and former England goalkeeper Joe Hart from Manchester City in the close season, did not disclose how much they paid for Vydra.

“I think five years ago I was like a kid in the Premier League. Now I feel I have more experience in English football, I speak better English and I have learned more in England, so I hope I’m a better player than five years ago,” Vydra told Burnley’s website.

“For the last four years I have been fighting to be in the Premier League.

“I haven’t done it with the teams I was playing for and sometimes it has to be done with a transfer and now I’m so happy.”

Vydra has made 20 international appearances for the Czech Republic, scoring five goals.

Meanwhile, Burnley defender Ben Mee has signed a new threeyear contract at Turf Moor, with an option to extend for a further 12 months, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The 28-year-old has made 248 appearances for the Clarets since joining from Manchester City, initially on loan in 2011 and then permanently the following year.

Mee featured in 29 league matches last season as the club finished seventh in the standings and earned their slot in the Europa League. — Reuters