BEN Gibson believes he has joined a 'club on the up' after completing his £15million move to Burnley.

The 25-year-old has signed a four-year deal at Turf Moor and his move from Middlesbrough matches the club-record fee the Clarets paid for Chris Wood a year ago.

Gibson becomes Sean Dyche's first summer signing and while the former Boro youngsters recognises he has taken a 'big step' in leaving his boyhood club, he is looking forward to the challenge of earning a place in the Burnley side.

“I’m absolutely delighted. It’s a big step for me. I’ve played for Middlesbrough for 15 years since I was a boy so it’s a huge step and one I’m really, really excited about,” he said.

“I’ve been to the training ground and met a few of the boys and the place seems like it’s certainly a club that’s on the up and certainly a club to be excited about playing for.

“There’s a good feel about the place. Burnley is a club that recently has had some fantastic success and I’ve had some great battles against them myself and I’m looking forward to wearing their colours.

“Now it’s done and dusted I just want to get cracked on and fight to win my place in the team and get to know the boys and be very much part of what’s happening.

“This move and this club has given me the opportunity to ply my trade at the highest level and hopefully in the Europa League, so it’s fantastic opportunity for me and my family.

“We are very proud to be here and I just can’t wait to get started.”

Gibson will try and help the Clarets build on their remarkable success of last season, when Dyche's side finished seventh in the Premier League to earn a spot in Europe.

And the defender, who was part of the England squad in June 2017 but didn't win a cap, is hoping this can be a 'good chapter' in the club's history.

“The measure of a fantastic team is not to do something once, but to repeat that time and time again,” Gibson added.

“I know that’s what Sir Alex Ferguson said about Manchester United.

“Sean Dyche and the team and everyone here did such a fantastic job last year in finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League. Let’s hope this is a real, real good chapter in Burnley’s history and this is just the start of things to come.”