Lucas Pires

Key strength: Pace and dribbling on the flank

Attacking full-back

In the trenches of a relegation battle, Burnley find themselves rooted in 19th position as they navigate their return to top-flight football. Amid this struggle, 24-year-old Brazilian left-back Lucas Pires arrived in July 2024 on a contract running through 2028—a €5m investment signaling the club's faith in his potential to transform their defensive fortunes. Pires profiles as an attack-minded full-back whose pace and dribbling abilities (both rated 70 by FIFA metrics) could inject much-needed creativity into Burnley's left flank. With just one full 90-minute appearance under his belt so far, the South American is in the early stages of adapting to English football's relentless demands. Competing against defenders like Jordan Beyer and Quilindschy Hartman for starting minutes, Pires represents Burnley's blueprint: young, technically gifted, and capable of overlapping runs that stretch opposition defenses. In a side desperate for attacking outlets, his €5m valuation and Brazilian flair may prove crucial as they fight to climb from the relegation zone.