Burnley FC statement - Jay Rodriguez

Jay Rodriguez Credit: Stephen Pond/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Burnley FC statement:

Burnley Football Club can confirm that Jay Rodriguez has today left Turf Moor after signing for Southampton.

Rodriguez has signed a four-year deal with the newly promoted Premier League club after the Saints agreed an undisclosed fee for the 22-year-old striker.

Burnley-born Rodriguez leaves a lasting legacy at Turf Moor, having started his Clarets' career in the club's Centre of Excellence before progressing through the youth team to sign his first professional contract in June, 2007.

After a first-team debut as a substitute in December, 2007 and a loan spell with Stirling Albion, Rodriguez scored his first senior goal to give the Clarets a Carling Cup win over Fulham in September, 2008.

Used mainly as a substitute, he finished the 2008/09 campaign with five goals, including Burnley's goal of the season against Nottingham Forest as the Clarets won promotion to the Premier League.

With a broken ankle keeping him out for a spell, the young striker didn't make a top-flight appearance for the Clarets but gained further first-team experience with a loan spell at Barnsley in 2010.

And following his return to Turf Moor, Rodriguez quickly established himself as a first-team regular back in the Championship. Fourteen goals in 37 starts made him the Clarets' leading scorer in the 2010/11 League season and earned him an England under-21 cap as a substitute against Italy in February, 2011 prior to signing a new contract - running until June, 2013 - the following month.

After being named as the North West's Championship Player of the Year, Rodriguez's outstanding progress continued in the 2011/12 season when his 21 goals - including a four-goal blast against Burton Albion in the Carling Cup - again made him the Clarets' top scorer and earned him the players' vote as their player of the year. Rodriguez was also named in the PFA Championship team of the season, alongside new Saints' team-mate Rickie Lambert, having been named the Football League's Young Player of the Month for January.

After missing eight games towards the end of last season with a groin injury, Rodriguez returned for the final game of the campaign, making his last appearance in a Burnley shirt as a substitute against Bristol City as he bade a fond farewell to Turf Moor.

Burnley Football Club would like to place on record their thanks to Jay for his contribution to the Clarets and wish him well in the remainder of what promises to be an outstanding career.