Nick Pope says he could not turn down the opportunity to sign for Premier League new boys Burnley.

The goalkeeper completed a transfer from Charlton on Tuesday and signed a three-year deal at Turf Moor.

Pope joined the Addicks back in 2011 from Bury Town and developed into the club’s first-choice stopper last season.

The 24-year-old insists he will always be thankful for the opportunity Charlton gave him, but says the chance to join Burnley was too good to refuse.

He told News Shopper: “I’m really delighted to be part of a Premier League team.

“I feel like Burnley is a club going forward and I want to continue my development here. It’s tough to set targets at this stage but I want to keep developing and work on some areas which I need to improve on.

“A couple of weeks after the season ended Burnley came to me.

“To have the opportunity to come to a Premier League club was just unbelievable. There might not have been another opportunity like that.

“The Premier League is where everyone wants to be and I could not turn it down.

“I have come a long way and believe Burnley is the right club for me going forward.”

Pope played 28 games for the Addicks in the 2015/16 season and became a regular in the side towards the end of the campaign.

His impressive performances could not save the side from going down, however, and the stopper admits he was hurt to witness the club’s demise to League One.

“I was always one of the players who cared about the club,” the former Bury, York and Aldershot loanee said.

“Last year was devastating to go through as a player. I cared about every result and every defeat hurt.

“But I had a lot of good times at Charlton – my league debut obviously stands out. Keeping a clean sheet against Millwall was also great even though we had a great chance to win the game.

“Playing against Ipswich last season was also special.”

Following his switch to Burnley, who won the Championship by four points last season, Pope thanked his former club and Charlton fans for their support.

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He added: “I’d like to thank the club, especially Chris Powell for his help early in my career.

“The club gave me an opportunity and I’ll always be thankful for that.

“I was a bit like Marmite at the start with the fans. I was in and out of the side and it was difficult for me to play as well as I can.

“But the fans are great and really got behind me last season.

“I’ll definitely be keeping one eye on the club – I’ve got some great friends there and they gave me my chance.”

Pope was followed through the Burnley door by ex-Charlton winger Johann Berg Gudmundsson – the Iceland international has committed to the Clarets until 2019.

Soham-born star Pope said the pair were made to feel welcome at their new club.

“We had our medicals together and the whole squad have really welcomed us into the dressing room,” Pope said.

“We feel part of the team already and it was nice to have a familiar face to walk through the door with.”

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