 Burke withNottingham Forest in 2016 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Oliver Jasen Burke[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1997-04-07)7 April 1997 (age 27)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Kirkcaldy, Scotland | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[3] | ||
| Position(s) | Right winger,forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Werder Bremen | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2005 | Mowbray Rangers | ||
| 2005–2015 | Nottingham Forest | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2016 | Nottingham Forest | 25 | (6) |
| 2015 | →Bradford City (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | RB Leipzig | 25 | (1) |
| 2017–2020 | West Bromwich Albion | 20 | (0) |
| 2019 | →Celtic (loan) | 14 | (4) |
| 2019–2020 | →Alavés (loan) | 31 | (1) |
| 2020–2022 | Sheffield United | 28 | (1) |
| 2022 | →Millwall (loan) | 14 | (2) |
| 2022– | Werder Bremen | 33 | (4) |
| 2023 | →Millwall (loan) | 17 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | →Birmingham City (loan) | 21 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2015–2016 | Scotland U19 | 6 | (1) |
| 2017 | Scotland U20 | 4 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | Scotland U21 | 9 | (4) |
| 2016–2020 | Scotland | 13 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:43, 16 March 2025 (UTC) | |||
Oliver Jasen Burke (born 7 April 1997) is a Scottish professionalfootballer who plays as aright winger orforward forBundesliga clubWerder Bremen.
He came through the academy atNottingham Forest, signing a professional contract in September 2014 and making his debut the following February. In August 2016, Burke signed forBundesliga clubRB Leipzig for a reported fee of £13 million, a record fee for a Scottish player.[4] A year later, having helped Leipzig to runners-up position in the league, he returned to England by signing forWest Bromwich Albion for a fee of £15 million. Following an unsuccessful few years at West Bromwich Albion, and loan spells atCeltic andAlavés, Burke joined Sheffield United in September 2020 in a swap deal involvingCallum Robinson. He played regularly in his first season at Sheffield United, but spent the second half of the next season on loan atMillwall and then returned to German football withWerder Bremen. After half a season, he rejoined Millwall on loan, and 2023 signed for Birmingham City, also on loan.
Burke was born inKirkcaldy, Scotland, but grew up inMelton Mowbray, Leicestershire, England[5] where he joined local club Mowbray Rangers aged eight.[6] After one season at the club, he was scouted to joinNottingham Forest's Academy where he progressed for the next nine years.[7] Burke signed his first professional contract withNottingham Forest on 19 September 2014,[8] before making his professional debut as an 87th-minutesubstitute during a 3–1 loss toTottenham Hotspur on 24 September.[9] He made his league debut on 14 February 2015 as a 64th-minute substitute in a 4–4 draw away toBlackpool.[10]
Burke was sent on a month-long loan toLeague One clubBradford City on 24 February.[11][12] He made his debut for them on the same day, playing for 75 minutes in a 2–1 loss away toSwindon Town.[13] Burke made another start on 28 February in a 2–0 loss againstPeterborough United[14] and appeared twice as an unused substitute before returning to his parent club.[15] After his loan spell at Bradford City came to an end, Burke signed a three-year contract with Forest.[16]
Ahead of the 2015–16 season, Burke signed another three-year contract with the club on 29 July.[17] Burke played for the club's reserves until December when he was called up to the first team by managerDougie Freedman, whom Burke considered his mentor.[18] On 29 December, Burke scored his first goal for Forest from a curling shot hit with the outside of his right foot againstCardiff City. His goal opened the scoring at theCardiff City Stadium nine minutes into the game, which ended 1–1.[19] Burke scored his second goal for the club on 16 January 2016 in a 3–0 win overBolton Wanderers.[20] His performance once again earned a contract extension on a four-year deal on 29 February.[21] Burke ended the 2015–16 season having made twenty-one appearances in all competitions and scoring twice.
Ahead of the 2016–17 season Burke made an impression in thepre-season friendlies, scoring three times in six matches.[22] Under the new management ofPhilippe Montanier, Burke scored in the opening game of the season, a 4–3 win overBurton Albion,[23] and scored a brace two weeks later againstWigan Athletic.[24] Burke scored on his final appearance for Forest on 27 August, a 3–1 defeat ofLeeds United.[25] Burke's early season form and performances attracted the interest of leading European andPremier League clubs, such asBayern Munich,Manchester United,[26]Sunderland andLiverpool.[27] However, Montanier dismissed suggestions of Burke leaving Forest.[28]
On 28 August 2016, in a move that caused outrage among Forest supporters, who criticised the club's ownerFawaz Al-Hasawi,[29] Burke joined newly promotedBundesliga clubRB Leipzig on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[30] The deal was reported byBBC Sport to be worth around £13 million, which set a new record for a transfer involving a Scottish player.[31]
On his debut for Leipzig, a home Bundesliga game againstBorussia Dortmund on 10 September, Burke came on after 69 minutes in place ofYussuf Poulsen and provided an assist forNaby Keïta to score the only goal.[32] Fifteen days later he opened the scoring in a 1–1 draw at1. FC Köln, becoming the first Scot to score in Germany's top flight sinceBrian O'Neil forVfL Wolfsburg in November 1999.[33]
Despite this early impact, Burke was regularly used as a substitute by Leipzig.[34] Their coaching staff praised his physical attributes, but questioned his tactical awareness.[35]
Burke returned to English football on 25 August 2017, moving toPremier League clubWest Bromwich Albion for a reported fee of £15 million,[34] breaking his own record as the most expensive Scottish footballer.[36] He signed a five-year contract at the West Midlands club.[34] Burke said that he chose West Bromwich Albion as a way to have more game time, even though with Leipzig he could play in the Champions League.[37]
He made his debut two days later, replacing goalscorerJay Rodriguez for the final two minutes of a 1–1 home draw againstStoke City.[38] Owing to hamstring injury, he made only one other substitute appearance by mid-November and took part with the under-21 team in theEFL Trophy, scoring in a 2–1 group stage defeat atCoventry City on 7 November.[39]
On 14 August 2018, Burke scored his first goal for the Baggies, the game's only in a home win overLuton Town in the first round of theEFL Cup.[40] He made only six total appearances in the first half of the season, of which three were in the Championship, all from the bench.[41][42]
Burke moved on loan toCeltic on 5 January 2019 until the end of the season.[42] He made his debut two weeks later, playing the full 90 minutes of a 3–0 home win overAirdrieonians in theScottish Cup.[43] On 23 January, hisScottish Premiership debut, he played as a striker in the absence ofLeigh Griffiths andOdsonne Édouard and netted twice in a 4–0 win againstSt Mirren atCeltic Park, his first league goals since September 2016.[44]
On 30 August 2019, Burke was loaned toLa Liga clubAlavés for the season.[45] Burke made his debut for his new club in their 1–0 defeat toSevilla on 15 September, and scored his first goal for Alavés in a 2–1La Liga win overEibar on 7 February 2020.[46]
Sheffield United signed Burke from West Bromwich Albion on a three-year contract in September 2020;Callum Robinson moved in the opposite direction.[47] Burke scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 away league win overManchester United on 27 January 2021, clinching their first league win against Manchester United since 1992 and their first win atOld Trafford since 1973.[48]
On 21 January 2022, Burke joined Championship rivalsMillwall on loan until the end of the2021–22 season.[49]
In June 2022 Burke returned to theBundesliga, joining newly promotedWerder Bremen.[50] He reportedly moved on a free transfer.[51]
Burke scored his first goal for Bremen on 13 August 2022, netting late to secure a 2–2 draw withVfB Stuttgart.[52] A week later, he scored the decisive goal in a dramatic, come-from-behind 3–2 win atBorussia Dortmund.[53]
In January 2023 Burke returned to former club Millwall on loan until the end of the season.[54]
After making two appearances for Bremen in August 2023, Burke again returned to the EFL Championship on 1 September, the last day of thetransfer window, when he signed forBirmingham City on loan forthe 2023–24 season.[55] He failed to scored in 23 appearances in all competitions, of which half were as a starter, and played hardly at all in the second half of the season, partly due to injury, as Birmingham were relegated.[56][57]
Burke was eligible to play forEngland in addition to Scotland, having been brought up south of the border from a young age, but he opted to play for his country of birth.[6][58] He was first called up byScotland U19 and scored on his debut for the team, a 3–1 win againstMexico U18, on 6 October 2015. He went on to make six appearances for the side.[59]
Burke received his first call-up to the seniorScotland squad on 10 March 2016 for their friendly match againstDenmark.[60] He made his debut as an 82nd-minute substitute for goalscorerMatt Ritchie in the 1–0 win atHampden Park 19 days later.[61]
He was left out of the full squad in June 2017, and was a late call-up to theunder-20 squad for the2017 Toulon Tournament.[62][63] Burke scored both goals in a 3–2 defeat against theCzech Republic.[63] As captain,[64] Scotland claimed a historic first ever victory againstBrazil at any level, in the second match.[65] The team went on to win the bronze medal.[66] It was the nation's first ever medal at the competition.[67]
During the 2017–18 season, Burke was selected in theunder-21 squad.[68] He made his debut at that level on 5 September, and he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win against theNetherlands.[69] In the2018 Toulon Tournament, Burke scored goals against France[70] and South Korea[71] as Scotland finished in fourth place.[72] In the third-place play-off against Turkey, he was the only player to miss in the penalty shootout defeat, withAltay Bayındır saving his attempt.[72]
Burke was recalled to the full international squad in March 2019[73] and scored his only senior goal in Scotland's 2–1 victory over Cyprus on 8 June the same year.[74]
Burke became engaged to television personalityMegan McKenna in June 2023.[75]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Nottingham Forest | 2014–15[76] | Championship | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16[77] | Championship | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 2 | |||
| 2016–17[78] | Championship | 5 | 4 | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 6 | ||||
| Bradford City (loan) | 2014–15[76] | League One | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| RB Leipzig | 2016–17[46] | Bundesliga | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 25 | 1 | |||
| 2017–18[46] | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 25 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 26 | 1 | |||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2017–18[79] | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19[41] | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 1 | ||||
| 2019–20[80] | Championship | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 24 | 1 | ||||
| West Bromwich Albion U21 | 2017–18[79] | — | — | — | — | — | 2[c] | 1 | 2 | 1 | ||||
| 2018–19[41] | — | — | — | — | — | 1[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||||||
| Celtic (loan) | 2018–19[41] | Scottish Premiership | 14 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | 2[d] | 0 | — | 19 | 4 | ||
| Alavés (loan) | 2019–20[46] | La Liga | 31 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 1 | ||
| Sheffield United | 2020–21[81] | Premier League | 25 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2021–22[82] | Championship | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 | ||||
| Millwall (loan) | 2021–22[82] | Championship | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 2 | ||
| Werder Bremen | 2022–23[46] | Bundesliga | 15 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24[46] | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| 2024–25[46] | Bundesliga | 18 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | 20 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 34 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | 39 | 5 | |||||
| Millwall (loan) | 2022–23[83] | Championship | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 | ||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2023–24[56] | Championship | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 231 | 21 | 20 | 2 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 266 | 25 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 2016 | 4 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 13 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 June 2019 | Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland |  Cyprus | 2–1 | 2–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying | [74] |
Celtic
The likes of FC Bayern München, FC Barcelona and Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool FC are all purported to have shown some level of interest at some point or other in a player Burke's former Forest teammate Thomas Lam has even compared to Wales flier Gareth Bale.
