Arsenal insert telling transfer clause as Kompany makes first Burnley signing

Championship side Burnley are on the verge of signing Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard - but there's a twist in the transfer.

The 15-cap Northern Ireland international, 22, has never made a senior outing for the Gunners but has impressed on loan at Blackpool and most recently Millwall. He played 31 league games last season to help the Lions finish an impressive eighth in the Championship.

A number of clubs were reportedly interested in signing Ballard. It's believed new manager Vincent Kompany, who recently succeeded long-term boss Sean Dyche at Turf Moor, played a role in persuading the centre-back to choose Burnley ahead of their rivals.

As reported by The Athletic, Ballard is set to undergo a medical shortly. The transfer is in its final stages, although the Gunners are planning on inserting a clause that would allow them to match any future bids from clubs interested in signing him.

The Sun claim Burnley will pay £2million for Ballard's services. The Lancashire club were relegated from the Premier League last season after picking up just one point from their final four games, losing their final fixture 2-1 to Newcastle at Turf Moor.

Kompany, 36, has been tasked with building a new squad after losing more than a dozen players - including James Tarkowski, Phil Bardsley, Aaron Lennon, Erik Pieters, Dale Stephens, England goalkeeper Nick Pope and ex-skipper Ben Mee.

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Kompany is best known for his time as a player at Manchester City - winning four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups and two Community Shields at the Etihad. The ex-defender has just completed a two-year spell in charge of Anderlecht.

"I see a plan and I see good people," Kompany told Burnley's website shortly after his appointment. "I want to work with people that are already at Burnley, I'm allowed to bring good people with me as well, and together we don't have to change everything.

"You pick the core of the things you really appreciate about the club so far - the culture, how honest people can be, how warm and friendly people are - and then you add the detail that you think will take these things to the next level. To make a long answer short, I've chosen this project because I know that after a difficult start will come an incredible future."

Ballard came through Arsenal's academy and made his professional bow during a loan spell at Swindon Town in 2019-20. He qualifies to represent Northern Ireland through his mother, who was born in the country, and made his senior debut against Romania in 2020.

"It's really simple with Dan - he's done really well," Millwall manager Gary Rowett said in May. "If Dan was available again we would certainly welcome him back.

"But I don't expect he will be [coming back] because I think Arsenal will probably seek a different type of challenge for him. It's what those type of clubs tend to do. He's had a good season in the Championship. Will they look for something else? I don't know."