Burnley FC has revealed Josh Cullen as the club’s new captain for the 2025/26 season, with the announcement coming shortly after the departure of previous club captain Josh Brownhill. Cullen will steer his new team on and off the pitch, and is extremely well-liked among his fellow players and coaching staff as Burnley begins a new adventure with his former boss Scott Parker now in charge, while the club is back in the Premier League.
In this article on the 96.com app, we discuss the journey of Josh Cullen from midfield maestro to Burnley FC captain.
All You Need To Know About: Josh Cullen
Josh Cullen, who plays international football for the Republic of Ireland, was born on April 7, 1996, at Westcliff-on-Sea, England. The 29-year-old Josh Cullen is a professional football player who went through the development systems of West Ham United but only had minor senior appearances and also had loans at Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, and Charlton Athletic. In 2020, Josh Cullen signed with the Belgian team Anderlecht under Vincent Kompany. Kompany transferred Cullen to Burnley FC in 2022, and Cullen was able to establish himself quite quickly as an important cultural player in the spaces between the lines.
Josh Cullen, 29 years old, is a player who is technically really well developed, including with regard to understanding, is a crisp passer of the ball and has a good work rate, all of which seems to set him apart. Cullen mainly played central or deep midfielders and is showing a level of consistency now, but mainly a commitment to impact the players he is leading, now at a formal level as captain.
Josh Cullen’s Stats, Record, and Performance at Burnley FC
Josh Cullen has been consistent since arriving at Burnley. Cullen arrived at Burnley and was involved in 122 appearances with five goals in three seasons. He was an instrumental member of the successful Burnley Championship-winning team in the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, where Burnley secured their promotion back to the Premier League with an impressive 100 points.
In the 2024-25 Championship season, Cullen appeared in 44 matches with two goals and three assists. He recorded one of the highest passing ratios in the Championship with a passing completion rate of 65 passes- game with an impressive completion percentage of almost 89% to suggest an influence in terms of possession and the ball movement from side to side.
Cullen’s defence and defensive work were consistent too; he made 65 tackles, 34 interceptions, and over 200 ground duels through the course of the season. Beyond making contributions to possession or building it, Burnley had an incredible defensive record, conceding 16 goals in 46 Championship games, with 30 clean sheets, one of the best records in the history of the English second division.
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Lastly, he was also very disciplined, and he maintained composure throughout, with 11 yellow cards and no reds.
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What to Expect from Cullen as Captain
Josh Cullen’s appointment as captain is not a development that has happened overnight; he is building on an already developed leadership role, in which Cullen captained the side in several matches last season already and he is already a respected and vocal member in the dressing room. Cullen has experience both with clubs and internationally to lean on for the leadership aspects along the way, hopefully.
On the pitch, he can be expected to continue to be Burnley’s midfield anchor. He will still be tasked to initiate play, break up opposition attacks and try to bring counterattacks to fruition. Although Cullen is not known for being a prolific goal-scoring midfielder, his intelligent positioning and movement, and credible and calm qualities bring clarity to the Burnley structure.
Josh Cullen will continue to be a contact between the coaching staff and players to bridge the gap between what Scott Parker expects from Burnley and the tactical responsibilities that Premier League football will demand. Cullen’s cool and measured demeanour, with a professionalism and contextual understanding of the game, will help relieve the pressure of playing at the top of the game.
Conclusion
Josh Cullen’s rise to captaincy is not only a reward for the fine form he has been in but also a tactical move by Burnley as they look to return to form in the Premier League. Cullen has over 120 appearances for the Club, and his international experience with the Republic of Ireland has prepared him for this difficult task.
As Burnley heads into another arduous season against some of the best teams in England, Cullen might now be the deciding factor in the club’s future. His leadership at the centre of the midfield, service to the players and staff, and the temperament he demonstrates when the pressure is on are all indicators of a potential successful season ahead.