Oliver Burke failed to score in 23 appearances for Birmingham City during a loan spell from German side Werder Bremen
Oliver Burke celebrates a goal for Werder Bremen against Stuttgart
They say never fall in love with a loan player – and Birmingham City fans were never close to falling for Oliver Burke.
Former Scotland international Burke was a late addition to the Blues party in the summer transfer window of 2023, arriving on loan from Werder Bremen to bolster the club’s attacking options.
John Eustace was the first of six managers Burke played under during his season at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park and quickly thrust the winger into his starting XI.
Burke was given back-to-back starts against Watford and Preston, both of which ended in defeat to pile the pressure on Eustace. It was at Preston where Blues fans witnessed Burke’s skillset and limitations all in the same action.
He streaked away from Preston’s defence with speed few players can match before over-hitting the simplest of passes to put Koji Miyoshi through on goal.
That wouldn’t be the last time Burke disappointed Blues fans in a season which ultimately culminated in relegation from the Championship. He made 23 appearances, including 12 starts, without providing a goal or an assist.
Tony Mowbray effectively washed his hands of Burke after a poor showing off the bench at Leicester City at the end of January. Asked about Burke, plus the ineffectiveness of his other substitutes at the King Power, Mowbray said: “I’ve told them that. It’s an important part of their careers, they have seen the identity, they have seen how hard they have to work. If they don’t bring it they won’t be playing.
“It’s down to them. I’ve always said that. I try and lay everything out about what I believe and how we have to do it. They either want to come on the journey and do it or they don’t. The ones who don’t, don’t play. It’s as simple as that as far as I can see.”
Burke didn’t play again for Mowbray and, owing to an injury issue, he wasn’t available again until mid-April. By that point Gary Rowett was in charge on an interim basis and the unthinkable happened.
Rowett made one change to the side that had dismantled Coventry City 3-0 the previous week to start Burke against Rotherham United in a game Blues had to win.
By the end of the first half Blues fans had turned on Burke, booing his every touch and calling for Rowett to make a change. Rowett duly did and Burke never donned Blues’ colours again.
He returned to Bremen, where he was thought to be surplus-to-requirements last summer, only to stick around long enough to endear himself to manager Ole Werner.
Burke scored Bremen’s winner against Holstein Kiel in November and has gradually forced his way up the pecking order to the point where he is a starting player for a side chasing Europe in the Bundesliga.
In 27 appearances for Bremen this season, Burke has scored six goals making this the most productive season of his career.
Bremen, eighth in the Bundesliga, spent the early part of spring trying to extend Burke’s contract ahead of its expiry date on June 30.
Burke seemed keen too. In early April, he said: “I love the club and I really enjoy being here. Hopefully I can stay longer.”
However, a few short weeks later Bremen were forced to announce that Burke will leave at the end of the season. A statement said: “Oliver Burke has today informed the club that he will not extend his contract and that he will instead leave SV Werder Bremen at the end of the season.”
It is being widely reported that Union Berlin is Burke’s next destination. They will finish 13th in this season’s Bundesliga but only two years ago they finished fourth.
Union Berlin are trying to reach those heights again and view Burke, now playing as a centre-forward instead of wide on the right, as a necessary signing.
Burke is a fine example of just how quickly things can change in football. In April last year he was booed by his club’s fans, whereas this April saw two top-flight clubs fighting over him.
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