Town defender Axel Tuanzebe is undergoing a medical at newly promoted Premier League Burnley.

The right-sided centre-half or right-back is out of contract this summer and, as first reported by The Athletic, is set to join the Clarets as a free agent.

The 27-year-old was offered new lucrative terms by the Blues but ultimately wanted to remain in the Premier League.

The DR Congo international joins fellow free agent Cameron Burgess in leaving the club having turned down a new deal, the Australian international defender having signed for Championship Swansea City earlier this month.

Turkish reports yesterday claimed Trabzonspor had pulled out of a move for Tuanzebe due to concerns regarding his fitness giving fans hope that the former Manchester United man might stay at Portman Road. However, those hopes have now been dashed

The defender, who grew up in the North West, has been a key player over the past two seasons, despite injury sidelining him for a fair chunk of 2024/25.

Tuanzebe made 20 Premier League starts and two sub appearances for the Blues having suffered a freak hand injury and hamstring issues over the course of the campaign.

In total, Bunia-born Tuanzebe made 40 starts and five sub appearances for Town, scoring one goal, having signed on a free transfer after leaving Old Trafford in the summer of 2023.

Photo: TWTD

peewee added 17:22 - Jun 26 Can we take back the dishwasher town brought him lol
2

virginblue added 17:26 - Jun 26 Classic over-reactions as usual. Did a job for us, and we were better with him than without him last season. He’s out of contract and should think of the best move for him and his family. If he thinks that’s Burnley then that’s his choice. Won’t wish him luck but don’t wish anything ill for him either.
3

virginblue added 17:27 - Jun 26 And for those saying he wasn’t very good anyway, please remember Ben Godfrey when he played.
4

BlueySwede added 17:33 - Jun 26 THis might sound like sour grapes...occasionally a good player, but injury prone and not THAT great, as some fans make him out to be?! Good luck to him!
0

jas0999 added 17:36 - Jun 26 Good luck to him. Great player when fit. Lots for Ashton and KM to do. Season starts in weeks ..
2

DarkHorse added 17:37 - Jun 26 Poor form. He owes us after all we've done for him, particularly after he was out for so many matches for being unable to wash-up without mutilating himself. Leaves a really bad taste in the mouth.
0

itfc2024 added 17:41 - Jun 26 I'm not over concerned about him leaving with his injury record and when he did play was a good defender but was also a liability at times like aston villa away yes the first yellow wasn't but then use ur head don't do that 2nd stupid foul I wish him the best if we don't sign a new right back we have good cover in Clarke Johnson or even o'shea and woffinden at a stretch id say money on signing a right back and spend the money improving the central midfield and strike force

2

itfc2024 added 17:43 - Jun 26 I'd save money on signing a right back that meant to be
0

EuanTown added 17:47 - Jun 26 Move on, must be transfer season
0

bluerico added 17:52 - Jun 26 Good player when fit. Clearly he does not want to be here. If he fails the Burnley medical I hope he does not come back to us.
1

Tedray added 17:57 - Jun 26 Well that is two of our best defenders gone,anyone know please whether Jaden has recovered from his knee issue and is ready to start pre season training,also Harry after his two operations look forward to hearing about some players coming in the opposite direction
1

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 17:59 - Jun 26 Blueboy we've lost 2 players , 2!! We have Palmer, Walton, Johnson, Clarke, Townsend, OShea, Greaves, Wolf, Leif, Morsy, Taylor, Humphreys, Burns, Ogbene, Szmodics, Broady, Chappers, Clarke, Philogene, Hirst (Omari maybe) plus whoever we bring in . That's a really good squad of 20/21 players that we could 3 or 4 quality players to.
8

runaround added 18:00 - Jun 26 Good luck to Axel and hope he manages to stay fit. Sad that he doesn’t want to stay here but it’s his decision and we move on
0

Linkboy13 added 18:06 - Jun 26 Nobody has really held down the right back position since Donacian Clarke and Johnson haven't really inspired confidence need to sign somebody who has the potential to possibly perform in the Premier league.
2

armchaircritic59 added 18:10 - Jun 26 Yes blueboy1981, without signings the squad does indeed continue to decimate, but you can't replace someone until you know for certain that they are going. So assuming AT goes, we are looking at replacing him, CB (possibly) and Delap, so far, and of course we need some surgery in midfield. Though I'm not sure you can call a player leaving who only played occasionally last season (CB), and another who missed a fair chunk through an accident and injuries, a decimation. Delap was always going long before the season ended. We move on, though if you're saying we need to start getting a move on recruitment wise, I won't argue with you there. We need everything done and dusted before the Austrian trip, and yes I know the transfer window is open till September 1st, for anyone who may point that out. As I've mentioned before, we dont want to be the fiddler while Rome is burning around us. I'm expecting a lot of action one way and another over the next 4 weeks, as I expect are many!

1

blueshamrock added 18:14 - Jun 26 I think we gave Axel more than Axel gave Town,missed alot of games with us through one reason or anouther ,made alot of errors obviously didn't want to be here so nothing to do only get rid Good luck Axel but plenty out there who will do better and be better value for money .
2

ChestnutSe added 18:16 - Jun 26 Sorry to see him go, just like I’m sorry to see Burgess go. But at least it’s to a Premier league side.
0

Monkey_Blue added 18:20 - Jun 26 It’s a loss but Clarke and Johnson are more than good enough for us at this level so no need to panic. Whatever we offered clearly wasn’t what Burnley offered though as I suspect he must know there is a fair chance he’ll be passing us the other way next season.
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benslifeyt added 18:25 - Jun 26 Not surprised, now we need a lot of players this window. 5/6 players. Is this gonna be doable in one window
-1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:27 - Jun 26 Also worth remembering that if he was on a very high wage, at least we save that. Straw clutching maybe but true.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:39 - Jun 26 To be honest I was really pleased O’Shea signed a new long term deal far more important that he stayed. Like others have said should he fail medical at Burnley he can stay away! Not having a hissy fit are you blueboy ? Over 2 players leaving, every season players move on!
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chepstowblue added 18:39 - Jun 26 Personally I'd have got rid of both Clarke and Johnson in order to keep Tuanzebe. I guess that's why he's the only one of the three being touted by a PL club !
1

BeattiesBackPocket added 18:43 - Jun 26 Jondouglas ‘picked apart’ lol who?? Our best defender by some way has committed his future here and we lose an injury prone player who can’t manage 30 games a season?? Delap was way out of our hands. Not sure why the same old minority like blueboy yet again are that concerned. Yes Axel can be brilliant on his day but he only made 28 games last season and even less only 18 the season before?? Hardly a pivotal player

1

ArnieM added 18:43 - Jun 26 Despite his injury record Axel is a massive loss from our defence in my humble opinion. He is PL class all day long and players such as H. Clarke and Johnson are not in the same class.... also Johnson is attracting interesting from Fulham so we could also lose him. If we lose Davis that leaves just two players from last seasons defence, which may not have been strong enough at PL, would be very strong at CC level.

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ImAbeliever added 18:48 - Jun 26 All the best Axel, keep fit.
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