BURNLEY have completed the signing of young striker Jamie Thomas on a free transfer.

The Wales Under-19 international was surprisingly released by relegated Bolton Wanderers in the summer, and the Clarets have taken advantage of his availability to secure a two-year deal, with the club have an option of a further year.

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Thomas, 19, will join up with Burnley's development squad, and he is looking forward to continuing his career at Turf Moor.

"I’m absolutely delighted and I’m looking forward to getting started now in pre-season and hopefully hitting the ground running," he said.

"I feel it’s a place that’s close to home. My dad was born in Burnley so it’s close to me and my family. I feel I can continue progressing and push on to eventually try and get into the first-team.

"I've been shown around the training ground and I thought the facilities and the plans for the future we excellent so it made me want to come here even more."

Thomas had an impressive goalscoring record at youth level for Wanderers and he was unused substitute for the senior side against Hull City and Cardiff City at the back end of last season.

Getting so close to making his senior debut is something that Thomas is now determined to build on.

"It was a great experience," he said. "There were a lot of fans at Cardiff away and with it being my first time with the first-team away it was a bit nervy but I loved it and it gave me a taste for the future.

"I love going away with Wales as you get to meet new lads from different clubs so it’s always a pleasure to represent my country.

"I can play as a number ten or a number nine and I like to create and score goals. My immediate aim is to get to know my teammates here at the club, start doing that and enjoy it."