‘I’m buzzing!’: McBurnie delight at joining Tigers
EXPERIENCED: New Hull City forward Oli McBurnie
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Hull City’s hopes for the new season have received a major boost with the signing of experienced forward Oli McBurnie on a three-year contract with a club option of a further year.
The Tigers proudly said they had “fought off strong competition from several Championship clubs” to secure the services of “our first-choice attacking target”.
The McBurnie deal, announced last night, is arguably the most impressive signing the club have made since their recruitment plans were thrown into disarray by the imposition of a three-window transfer embargo by the EFL (English Football League) last month.
City’s appeal against the ban is expected to be heard next week.
McBurnie, 29, a former Sheffield United striker, joins on a free transfer after spending last season in Spain with Las Palmas, registering nine goal involvements in 34 La Liga outings.
He said: “I’m buzzing. It’s been a long time coming. Everyone has worked really hard to get to this point. A big thank you to Jared [Dublin, sporting director], the owner and the manager for getting it done.
“Jared spoke to me at the end of last season. I was in Spain last year, and from the start, I said to Jared that for me to come back to England, it had to be something special.
“I needed to come back for something that excites me, and at the same time, is right for me and my family.
“There’s something to be said for a team and a manager that really wants you. When I spoke to the manager, the first thing he said to me was, ‘Can you score me 15 goals?’.
“I’ve come in as more of an experienced player. I’ll try to use my experience to help some of the younger boys in that leadership role. I’ll put myself about, make it hard for defenders and chip in with some goals.
“I don’t think I’ve ever known so many players going into a club! I’m excited to play with some old friends and some new ones as well. I can’t wait to get out there on the training pitch and get in front of the fans.”
Capped 16 times by Scotland, the frontman has made 125 appearances in the Championship and 96 in the Premier League, scoring 77 senior goals.
Twenty-nine of those came for the Blades, where he played 159 matches during a five-year spell between 2019 and 2024, helping them achieve a ninth-place Premier League finish in his debut season.
The Leeds-born attacker was instrumental as the Blades secured promotion as Championship runners-up and reached the FA Cup semi-finals in 2022/23, finishing as joint-top scorer with 15 goals.
McBurnie moved to Bramall Lane in August 2019 for a then-club record £20m from Swansea City, having netted a career-best 24 goals in the last of his four seasons in South Wales.
His first taste of Championship football came in 2017/18 during a half-season loan at Barnsley, earning the Tykes’ Player of the Year award after notching nine goals in 17 games.
Eligible for Scotland through his father, McBurnie helped the Tartan Army qualify for the 2020 European Championship finals, converting his spot-kick in the play-off final penalty shootout victory over Serbia.
The Tigers kick-off their Championship campaign at Coventry City at 12.30pm on Saturday, the first competitive match under new head coach Sergej Jakirović.
When Jakirović was unveiled as the successor to Rubén Sellés on June 30 – just days before the transfer embargo was announced – both he and chairman Acun Ilıcalı set the club a target of a top ten finish in the league. It is not known if that has been revised following the embargo, which prevents Tigers from paying a fee for any player until January 2027.
Other signings this summer include:
Winger Joel Ndala, 19, season-long loan from Manchester City
Centre-back Akin Famewo, 26
Centre-back and holding midfielder Semi Ajayi, 31
Goalkeeper Dillon Phillips, 30
Players who have left include:
Forward Mason Burstow, 21 (Bolton, season-long loan)
Defender Alfie Jones, 27 (Middlesbrough)
Defender Sean McLoughlin, 28 (Blackburn Rovers)
Goalkeeper Anthony Racioppi, 26 (FC Sion)
Defender Andy Smith, 23 (Gillingham)
Forward João Pedro, 33
Goalkeeper Thimothée Lo-Tutala, 22 (Doncaster, season-long loan)
Midfielder Xavier Simons, 22 (Bolton).