NATHAN COLLINS has become the most expensive Irish player in history after Wolves paid Burnley £20.5million for the 21-year-old centre-back.
The fee smashes Robbie Keane‘s previous record which stood for 14 years after Liverpool paid £19million for the striker in 2008.
Republic of Ireland international Collins completed his medical at Wolves‘ Compton Park training base before putting pen-to-paper on a bumper five-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.
The youngster then flew out to Wolves pre-season training camp in Alicante with his new teammates.
Bruno Lage is confident the six-times-capped international will fill the huge void left by experienced defender Romain Saiss who has moved to Besiktas.
Wolves’ technical director Scott Sellars says Wolves have signed a player who ticks all the boxes.
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He said: “He’s a very talented young man – he’s only 21, has played international football and had a good season last year with Burnley.
“We think we’ve signed a player with a lot of potential, as well as being a very good footballer now.
“We’re getting someone who is physically very good, very tall, very athletic, and is very comfortable on the ball – he can step in and take the ball forward, which is what we need.
“He’s very good in both boxes and has real aerial strength.
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“The feedback on his personality is about his leadership qualities, he’s a good character, so he ticks all the boxes.
“It’s taken time, but we’ve got there in the end.
“He comes across as a humble young man who is appreciative of the opportunity, so we’re all going to be very happy.”
Collins was signed by Burnley from Stoke City for an initial £12m fee last June – rising to what would have been a Clarets club record outlay of £15m with add ons.
Born in Leixlip, County Kildare, Collins has made 19 Premier League appearances for Burnley, scoring twice.
Wolves have been tracking the centre-half’s situation since Burnley toppled into the Championship.
He becomes the fifth Burnley player to leave Turf Moor this summer, following the departure of James Tarkowski, Nick Pope, Ben Mee and Wout Weghorst.
