Sold by Nottingham Forest to RB Leipzig, Oliver Burke presents a strange case

Promising Scottish talent Oliver Burke was a big money move ahead of the transfer deadline, which is not so surprising. What was less expected was that he would be sold to RB Leipzig.

Oliver Burke celebrates scoring for Nottingham Forest over the weekend, before he was sold to RB Leipzig. John Clifton / Action Images / Reuters / August 27, 2016

When Nottingham Forest’s promising winger Oliver Burke received the ball in an apparently hopeless position with his back to goal near the byline at the City Ground on Saturday, few could have predicted what was about to unfold.

Five touches later the ball was in the net and one of the most surprising deals of the transfer window was in the making – a reported £13 million (Dh62.6m) switch that turned the 19-year-old into Scotland’s most expensive footballer and left one of the world’s oldest clubs in turmoil.

Within an hour of Burke’s strike in a 3-1 Championship (second tier) win over Leeds United, his manager Philippe Montanier said the club’s owner had assured him Burke would not be sold; hours later Burke was on a plane to newly promoted Bundesliga side RB Leipzig to sign a contract with them.

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The deal epitomises the febrile atmosphere gripping English clubs in the last days of the transfer window, which shuts on Wednesday.

When Leipzig announced the signing on Sunday, Forest were immediately lambasted by former player Stan Collymore who said he was “disgusted” at the decision to sell Burke while furious supporters vented their anger at the club’s Kuwaiti owner Fawaz Al Hasawi.

Burke has been touted as one of Britain’s most promising talents with a powerful, pacey technique similar to Gareth Bale’s.

Born in Scotland, Burke spent 11 years at Forest’s academy, making his debut two years ago. Four goals in five matches this season drew the attention of many clubs including Manchester United.

While a move to the Premier League seemed certain, Burke has instead taken the unusual step for a British teenage footballer of going abroad.

“When I found out that Forest had agreed to sell me it was a surprise but I understand the transfer fee received should help stabilise the club,” Burke said in a statement.

The contrast between the clubs is marked. Leipzig did not even exist when Forest, who were founded in 1865, made their own piece of transfer history in 1979 by becoming the first British club to pay £1 million for a player.

While the double European Cup holders have been in steep decline for years, big-spending Leipzig, backed by Dietrich Mateschitz, the Austrian-born billionaire founder of energy drink company Red Bull, have risen steadily up from Germany’s fifth division since 2009.

At Forest, the supporters’ trust on Monday called on Al Hasawi to clarify his intentions amid anger over Burke’s sale and speculation of a takeover.

“We note, with concern, the sale of Oliver Burke to Red Bull Leipzig and would welcome, at the earliest opportunity, clarity from the club’s ownership over the rationale for the sale of a homegrown star,” the trust said.

Al Hasawi was not available for comment on Monday.

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