Dan Burn, a defender for Newcastle United, impressed new head coach Thomas Tuchel and was called up for the first time at the age of 32. After starting his career with Darlington and rising through the ranks to finally land a move to St. James’ Park in 2022, the 6′ 7″ centre-back will be looking to make his debut for his country against either Latvia or Albania.
Burn’s right hand only has three fingers, which more football fans would soon notice. The narrative behind the missing digit is pretty graphic, even though it is obvious that it hasn’t impacted the defender’s efforts to become the best in his field.
Dan Burn experienced a horrific accident when he was 13 years old and lost his finger.
Although Burn has never publicly discussed the fact that he only has three fingers on his right hand, the defender was in a serious accident when he was a teenager, according to Free Library. When the current Magpies star chose to scale a fence at the age of 13, it is believed that he was wearing a ring.
His reason for scaling a fence is unknown, but if he was like other teenagers, it’s likely that he was doing it to get a football. Regretfully, his ring snagged on a spike at the top while he was doing this. It ripped his finger clean off as he fell. Aww. How agonising that must have been. Burn has had an amazing career as a professional football player despite his disabilities.
Never knew Dan Burn had a finger missing?! pic.twitter.com/DJXh55ZBR1
— Courtney Neary (@Courtney_Neary) October 27, 2024
Burn Joined His Hometown Team in 2022
His move was one of Newcastle’s first following takeover
After Newcastle was acquired by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund for the 2021–22 season, the northeastern team got to work building a team that could stay in the Premier League and eventually contend for a place in the top half of the standings. When the takeover took place in October 2021, they were in the midst of a relegation struggle, and by January 2022, the club had made moves throughout the transfer window.
Burn was one of the first names they introduced. At the time, the defender was enjoying a fantastic season with Brighton & Hove Albion, so it felt a little strange to move to a Newcastle team lower in the standings than the Seagulls. For the defender, however, it was an obvious call as a lifetime Magpies fan.
It was also a wise decision in retrospect. From relegation contenders to Champions League contenders and even Carabao Cup finalists, Burn has been a reliable member of the Magpies’ backline. After capturing Tuchel’s attention, he is now almost ready to play for England.
"He's such a tall guy – but obviously it's easy to overlook him!" 😂#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/J6UBbCmX0o
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) March 14, 2025
Burn Was Released By Newcastle at 11
He worked his way up the football pyramid
Burn, who grew up as a Newcastle supporter, dreamed of playing in the Premier League with the team. He had a shot because he was a member of the team’s youth program, but it appeared as though those hopes were crushed when he was let go by the Magpies when he was only 11 years old.
In his early years, the defender played for a number of local teams, including the Blyth Spartans, since he was determined to pursue his dream of becoming a professional football player. When he was sixteen, he even got a job playing for the team while working at the grocery Asda. Thankfully, Darlington scouted the Englishman, and after he signed with the Quakers, things only got better. Burn quickly transitioned from being a national league player to a Premier League potential after Fulham signed him after two years with the team.
Before getting a start for the Cottagers, he had to wait for his turn in the top flight, spending two seasons on loan at Birmingham City and Yeovil Town, respectively. However, they were quickly demoted, and he transferred to Wigan Athletic after playing for the team for a few years in the second division. Over the course of two years, the defender became an important member of the Latics when they noticed something in him. He then left Lancashire for Brighton and the south coast when the Premier League called again.
When he was given the opportunity to play for his beloved Newcastle after two and a half seasons of helping the Seagulls become a top-half Premier League team, he jumped at the chance. What a choice it has proven to be.
