Wigan have signed Manchester City defender Finley Burns on a three-year deal. The move ends a City spell that produced only one senior appearance, with the 23-year-old now moving on after a career shaped by academy football and loans.
Burns's City career
Burns came through City's academy and made his only senior appearance in an EFL Cup win over Wycombe in September 2021. Since then, he has spent time on loan with Swansea, Stevenage, Hull City and Reading over the past five seasons.
That list tells the story of a player who never quite broke into Pep Guardiola's first-team group, even at a club that finished second in the 2025 Premier League with 78 points and a +42 goal difference. City also ended eighth in the 2025 Champions League standings.
What Wigan are getting
Wigan arrive on a mixed run in their last five competitive matches, with two wins and three defeats. Burns gives them a 23-year-old centre-back with senior loan experience and a permanent move that finally settles his future after years of being on the edge of City's squad.
It is a step down in status, but probably the right one for where he is now. The cleanest read is that Wigan are buying development as much as depth, and Burns is buying the chance to turn one senior City appearance into a proper career run.
Wigan's new defender will be available to build into their back line as the club move into their next league fixture, with the three-year contract now in place.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
