Newly promoted English Premier League side Burnley yesterday announced the signing of Luca Koleosho from relegated Spanish LaLiga side Espanyol for a fee of £2.6m plus £860,000 in add-ons.
Koleosho, who was part of the Italy squad that won the Under-19 European Championship this summer, has agreed a four-year deal. He is part of the additions made by coach Vincent Kompany to the team that secured promotion to the English Premier League as champions.
Born to a Canadian-Italian mother and a Nigerian father, Luca has already represented three of the four countries at international level before his 19th birthday, but crucially, has not declared his allegiance as of yet. Nigeria is the only team he is yet to play for but he has a strong affiliation to the country’s senior national team.
“I enjoyed every part of it,” Koleosho said. “Going with the U.S., being with those guys. Playing with the Canadian first team, seeing professionals that play for their country, how they represent it how they act, how they treat the young kid that comes in, and how they help guide them through it”, he said.
“Playing for Italy, a national team that’s won a lot. Seeing their mentality going into all these games and tournaments. Seeing all that and having to decide between those three, it’s really hard. My father made me a fan of the Nigerian team because he watches them a lot and he made me know most of the players in the team”, he said while speaking on his eligibility to play for four countries in May.
Daniel Martins
