Burnley took advantage of Bristol City situation to secure superb free transfer | OneFootball

Burnley signed Tom Heaton on a free transfer in 2013 and it turned out to be a superb signing.

Burnley have been a side that has bounced from the Premier League to the Championship and back in recent seasons, resulting in a high turnover of players.

Some of these players have been great acquisitions for the Clarets and are remembered fondly by the supporters even to this day, while others didn’t fare very well and were easily forgotten.

One player who isn’t and won’t be forgotten by Burnley fans is goalkeeper Tom Heaton, who turned out to be a fantastic signing for the Lancashire side when he joined the club in 2013.

Heaton has had a very impressive and long football career, but it could be argued that his best time came when he was at Turf Moor.

Burnley signed Tom Heaton on a free transfer in 2013

Tom Heaton started his football career at Manchester United, but much of his time at Old Trafford was spent on loan at various other clubs.

In 2010, he left the Red Devils to join Cardiff City, where he played for the Bluebirds across two seasons before leaving to join Bristol City on a free transfer.

Heaton spent a single season at Ashton Gate, during which time he played 43 Championship games, conceding 77 goals and keeping six clean sheets in a relegation campaign.

In the 2013 summer, Heaton joined Burnley on a free transfer.

Heaton’s time at Bristol City could have been extended, as it’s since been revealed that the goalkeeper was offered fresh terms to extend his one-year contract, but Heaton decided to move on and join the Clarets.

Heaton left the Robins that summer after the club finished bottom of the Championship table and joining Burnley meant he stayed in the second tier.

It would be a move that would go on to take the goalkeeper’s game to a new level, as he flourished at the Lancashire club.

Tom Heaton was a superb free transfer signing for Burnley

When Tom Heaton joined Burnley in 2013, the goalkeeper already had 91 Championship appearances to his name.

The Clarets signed him when they were in the second tier, and once he joined, it was a match made in heaven, with Heaton so impressive for the club over a number of years.

In his first season at the club, Heaton played in all 46 league games, conceding just 36 goals and keeping an impressive 19 clean sheets.

The shot-stopper played an important role in the Clarets sealing second spot and automatic promotion to the Premier League.

In the top flight, Heaton continued to perform well between the sticks, playing in every single league game, conceding 53 goals and keeping a respectable 10 clean sheets amongst English football's elite.

Heaton was unable to prevent the club from being relegated that season, but in the 2015/16 season, Burnley were able to bounce back at the first time of asking, producing a season that was, statistically, Heaton’s best in a Burnley shirt.

That campaign, Heaton played in all 46 league games, playing 4,140 minutes of football. The goalkeeper conceded just 35 goals at an average of 0.76 per 90 minutes.

Furthermore, in that entire season, Heaton made 145 saves, leaving him with a save percentage rate of 80.6%.

Burnley lost just five games in that 2015/16 campaign, and Heaton was able to keep 20 clean sheets; the best he has achieved in his career, helping Burnley finish in first place.

Heaton was at Turf Moor for six years, and while towards the end of his time at the club he started to lose his place in the team to Nick Pope, he was a fantastic addition for Burnley as they established themselves in the Premier League.

He was able to perform at a top level, whether it be in the Championship or the Premier League, and at times Burnley had him to thank for them winning games and staying in the top flight.

His performances didn’t go unnoticed, and he eventually won three international caps for England, before taking on the 'third-choice' goalkeeper role at Manchester United.

Out of all the transfer deals Burnley have done, not many will be able to beat signing Heaton on a free transfer, given what he was able to achieve with the club under Sean Dyche's period of relative stability.