‘In tears’: Andros Townsend shares ‘toughest’ moment of his career after contract setback

Former Everton player Andros Townsend has revealed that his failed move to Burnley in the summer was one of the worst moments of his career.

The 32-year-old spent two years at Goodison Park after joining the Blues as a free agent in July 2021 following the expiry of his contract with Crystal Palace.

However, after a promising start, Townsend suffered a cruciate ligament injury in March 2022, the winger’s time at Everton came to an abrupt end and the former England international was released in the summer.

Indeed, it seemed as though an agreement would be reached with newly promoted Burnley, but after training with the Lancashire club, Vincent Kompany’s side decided against offering the 32-year-old a contract, leaving him ‘in tears’.

Andros Townsend could have had more time at Everton where it not for serious injury

Speaking with BBC Radio 5 Live, Townsend recalls the moment he was rejected by Burnley was ‘one of the toughest moments’ of his career.

The ex-Everton player said: “Last season was a nightmare for me, I missed the whole season through injury.

So to get your break in pre-season and get back to playing to a level you know you’re capable of, to get offered a contract and to get to the day where you’re signing the contract and you’re just waiting for the paperwork to come through, to be told that contract is being ripped away from you – honestly, I left that conversation in tears.

I was in tears because I felt that my Premier League dream was over. I’m smiling about it now but it was one of the toughest moments of my career.”

Andros Townsend remains without a club after not playing a competitive game for 18 months and states that he is now ‘waiting for the phone to ring’.

The former Everton man scored three Premier League goals in 21 games, including a memorable 30-yard strike in a 3-1 Goodison Park win over Burnley, winning the Goal of the Month award for September 2021.