Fletcher seals his dream deal: Striker quits Hibs to join Burnley

By Peter Jardine for MailOnline Updated: 05:31 EST, 1 July 2009

Steven Fletcher spoke of a dream fulfilled last night as he secured a move to the English Premier League with newly-promoted Burnley.

The Scotland striker quit Hibs in a £3million deal, which could rise by a further £500,000 for the Easter Road club if add-on clauses are met.

And Fletcher, who saw a January switch to Celtic wrecked when Hibs chairman Rod Petrie rejected a £2m bid, told Sportsmail that he had barely given Parkhead a passing thought, such was his desire to move south.

After signing a lucrative, four-year contract with Owen Coyle's top-flight newcomers, Fletcher said: 'I always wanted to move to the English Premier League, so I am absolutely delighted to achieve that ambition with Burnley.

'I think people in Scotland sometimes forget I was raised in Liverpool. This is the league I grew up watching.

'I have family down there, so a lot of things came together when this deal came up. I wanted to work with Owen Coyle, too, and now I can't wait to start with Burnley.'

Gordon Strachan had already targeted Fletcher last New Year and, when Tony Mowbray took over the Celtic hotseat, it was assumed the former Hibs boss would also pursue the player he helped to develop during his time in Leith.

But Celtic's first move has been to chase 27-year-old Nancy striker Marc-Antoine Fortune, rather than the 22-year-old who scored Scotland's winner against Iceland in a World Cup qualifier at Hampden in April.

'I had no idea whether Celtic would come back in,' added Fletcher. 'Tony helped me a lot when he was with Hibs and I learned from him during that time.

'Maybe Celtic wanted to pursue bigger-name players from Europe, I don't know. But, to be honest, it is not something I gave any thought to because I wanted to come here.

'England was a goal and the other great thing about the transfer is that it will end the speculation. I've had it pretty much non-stop for a couple of years. Now I can simply focus on my football.'

Coyle, who also signed Derby defender Tyrone Mears for £500,000 yesterday, is plotting other SPL transfer raids, with Hamilton Accies starlet James McCarthy on his wish list, as well as Hearts winger Andy Driver.

But Hamilton boss Billy Reid said Burnley had so far failed to meet Accies' valuation of the youngster. 'There is interest in McCarthy but I expect to see James at pre-season training next week,' said Reid yesterday.

'I don't deny Burnley have made inquiries about him but it is not right for us or the player at the minute.

'We know how important an asset he is to Hamilton and we rate him very highly.'

McCarthy, 18, was named PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year last season and was also the subject of a six-figure bid from Celtic.

Coyle is expected to up his offer in the next few days. Meanwhile, Accies are keen to sign freed Falkirk striker Steve Lovell.