Has Sander Berge’s transfer from Burnley to Fulham gone as expected so far?
Burnley entered the summer transfer window anticipating that some of their standout players from a disappointing Premier League season would depart the club.
Sander Berge was among the players linked with a departure from Turf Moor this summer. Manchester United had set their sights on the Norwegian midfielder as they aimed to bolster their midfield for the 2024/25 season.
The 26-year-old stood out as a bright spot during Burnley’s disappointing campaign, which saw them relegated under Vincent Kompany’s management.
Following their return to the Championship, Berge was eager to leave Burnley and ultimately made the switch to Fulham for an initial fee of £20 million, potentially rising to £25 million with add-ons.
After missing the first two matches of the Cottagers’ season, Football League World has analyzed how Berge has adapted to life in London and whether his transfer has been a successful one.
Berge has had to bide his time at Fulham.
While he showcased his talent and capability in the Premier League during his single season with Burnley, this is his first year in the top flight with a team aiming for a top-10 finish.
These higher expectations mean he is now surrounded by better players than he has played alongside before, as he competes for a spot in the Fulham midfield against Andreas Pereira and Sasa Lukic.
Sander Berge Fulham Stats 2024/25 (FotMob)
| Statistic | Value |
|---|
| Appearances (Starts) | 5 (1) |
| Minutes Played | 173 |
| Goals (Assists) | 0 (0) |
| Chances Created | 4 |
| Pass Accuracy | 88.5% |
| Touches | 102 |
| Tackles Won | 2 |
| Duels Won | 9 |
| Aerial Duels Won | 4 |
| Interceptions | – |
He received his first start in black-and-white on Saturday as the Cottagers suffered a 3-2 defeat away to Manchester City. The Norway international played for 65 minutes but struggled to influence the game as he has in the past.
He was unable to create any chances, lost the only tackle he attempted, and had to drop deeper than he would prefer due to the quality of the opposition that both he and his team were facing at the Etihad Stadium.
However, he was not overly wasteful with the ball, completing 25 of his 29 passes, and he was not dispossessed at any point during the match.
Berge will be looking to enhance his performance as the season progresses.
It is hard to say this early on whether Berge’s move has paid off due to the lack of minutes he has had on the pitch so far, but being given a first start in a game as big as the one at the weekend is a positive sign.
A good showing for Norway in the upcoming internationals will only improve his chances of starting matches from the off and give him the opportunities he needs to impress Marco Silva.
Fulham have made a strong start to the season, with their loss to Manchester City being their first since the opening match of the 2024/25 campaign.
As they head into the international break, the West London side sits in eighth place with 11 points, just three points shy of fourth-placed Chelsea.
Berge will be aiming to fully settle in and replicate the impressive performances he showcased during his time at both Burnley and Sheffield United, demonstrating to the Craven Cottage faithful why Fulham invested £25 million in him.
Source: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/has-sander-berges-move-from-burnley-to-fulham-gone-to-plan-so-far/
