Attacking midfielder George Boyd has left Hull City for Burnley after a brief but memorable spell at the KC Stadium.
A run to the FA Cup final with City last season was a dream come true for Boyd, one of a rare collection of players to have graced the top five divisions in the English football pyramid, but with Premier League opportunities with City likely to be limited this season, he has taken an opportunity to play regular football with the Clarets. Speaking to Sky Sports News this lunchtime, Boyd said he couldn't turn down the opportunity of regular top-flight football. "Sean Dyche (Burnley manager) said to me if I work hard I'll be in the first team and continue to play in the Premiership, which every team wants to do," he said. "I think it's fair to say that I wasn't going to be involved at Hull and the opportunity to come here was one I couldn't turn down. "I think it's massive, especially at my age, to be playing every week. Playing in a big league is a great opportunity for me and hopefully we can stay up and kick on." Tigers boss Bruce was quick to praise the departing Boyd. "I wish him well," he said. "I've been in the game a long time and if all professional footballers were like George Boyd, my job would be easy." Burnley chief Dyche said: "George is a player my staff and I have admired for a long time. The reason for the lateness of this is purely because we didn't think he was available. "Everyone will have seen Steve's comments about him as a person and although it's not a pre-requisite, we like that professionalism from our player. "There is certainly no lack of physicality from him and we know the distances he covers and how he looks after himself, but also the quality. "We think we are getting a player whose record down the years shows he can score and create goals. We have gone up a level and that's harder to do, so we need the players who can do that. "He has played at every level form Conference up and he has earned his spurs."
• LIVE deadline day updates: The latest here
Boyd has signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be a club-equalling record deal for the Clarets of £3m.
Having signed from Peterborough, initially on loan, in February 2013, Boyd played a crucial role in the Tigers' march to automatic promotion that season.
Steve Bruce swooped after a failed eye test famously denied Boyd a move to Nottingham Forest during the January transfer window.
Boyd never let Forest forget the blunder and later that season he celebrated a goal against the Championship rivals with a pair of imaginary glasses.
George Boyd celebrates his goal in the 1-0 win over Swansea last season.
A run to the FA Cup final with City last season was a dream come true for Boyd, one of a rare collection of players to have graced the top five divisions in the English football pyramid, but with Premier League opportunities with City likely to be limited this season, he has taken an opportunity to play regular football with the Clarets. Speaking to Sky Sports News this lunchtime, Boyd said he couldn't turn down the opportunity of regular top-flight football. "Sean Dyche (Burnley manager) said to me if I work hard I'll be in the first team and continue to play in the Premiership, which every team wants to do," he said. "I think it's fair to say that I wasn't going to be involved at Hull and the opportunity to come here was one I couldn't turn down. "I think it's massive, especially at my age, to be playing every week. Playing in a big league is a great opportunity for me and hopefully we can stay up and kick on." Tigers boss Bruce was quick to praise the departing Boyd. "I wish him well," he said. "I've been in the game a long time and if all professional footballers were like George Boyd, my job would be easy." Burnley chief Dyche said: "George is a player my staff and I have admired for a long time. The reason for the lateness of this is purely because we didn't think he was available. "Everyone will have seen Steve's comments about him as a person and although it's not a pre-requisite, we like that professionalism from our player. "There is certainly no lack of physicality from him and we know the distances he covers and how he looks after himself, but also the quality. "We think we are getting a player whose record down the years shows he can score and create goals. We have gone up a level and that's harder to do, so we need the players who can do that. "He has played at every level form Conference up and he has earned his spurs."
