Burnley have signed Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana on loan until the end of the season.
Fofana spent the first half of the campaign with Bundesliga side Union Berlin, scoring two goals in 17 appearances as the German outfit struggled to get anywhere close to their form from last term.
However, he was recalled by Chelsea on Thursday and has now joined relegation-threatened Burnley for the remainder of 2023-24, with the Clarets beating Sevilla to his signature.
The 21-year-old becomes Burnley's first signing of the January transfer window.
"It feels very good to be here, I'm really happy. I think it will be a really good place for me to progress and it's the perfect move for me," he told the club website.
I found him, he belongs to me 🌖 pic.twitter.com/SUMn3KNNkX
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 13, 2024
"To work with Vincent Kompany will be very good. I have seen a couple of games already and I think this is the right place for me to make the next steps.
"I have known about Burnley for a long time, they have been in the Premier League before this season and the champions last year and I'm now looking forward to now being a part of this team."
Burnley are not in action again until January 31, when they make the trip to champions Manchester City - a game which could see Fofana make his debut for the Clarets.
Kompany's side currently sit 19th in the Premier League table, four points adrift of safety in the battle to avoid the drop.
Only rock-bottom Sheffield United have scored fewer goals than the Clarets this season, leading to Kompany bolstering his attacking options in the winter window.
We're pleased to confirm the signing of forward David Datro Fofana who joins on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season 📝
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) January 13, 2024
The 21-year-old Ivory Coast international becomes Vincent Kompany's first signing of the January transfer window 🇨🇮
Welcome to Burnley, David 👏
Fofana initially joined Chelsea last January, but only made four appearances for the club during the second half of the 2022-23 campaign.
The striker is yet to score for his parent club, but he did net 24 times in 65 appearances for Molde to earn his switch to Stamford Bridge.
Fofana has also made three appearances for Ivory Coast, although he was left out of the final squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
At Turf Moor, Fofana will compete with the likes of Zeki Amdouni, Jay Rodriguez and Lyle Foster for a starting berth up front.
Barney Corkhill
