Zian Flemming is sparkling with one of the best strike rates in the Premier League despite what has been a difficult season for Burnley.
Flemming has scored seven goals in only 11 starts in his first season in the top-flight, which is a ratio of a goal every 157 minutes. Only six players with three goals or more are scoring at a better rate.
Top of the list is Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. It also features Lukas Nmecha of Leeds and Junior Kroupi of Bournemouth, but Flemming is the most surprising inclusion.
His goal data is very impressive and while Burnley seem bound once more for the Championship, Flemming is one of Scott Parker’s players who has adjusted to the step up in class.
The 27-year-old is attracting admirers from other Premier League clubs.
There is a hint of Teddy Sheringham about him. He is intelligent, with great vision and an ability to link up with others.
There is a Millwall past and an ability to score in different ways, including his deceptive strength in the air. Only Casemiro and Raul Jimenez have scored more headed goals in the Premier League this season.
Flemming may even emerge as an outside World Cup contender for the Netherlands, who have been searching for years for a natural centre forward.
He came through the ranks of the Ajax academy from the age of 10 before leaving for PEC Zwolle at 20, and a prolific on loan at NEC Nijmegen in the aborted 2019-20 season.
Zian Flemming has scored seven goals in only 11 starts this season for struggling Burnley
His 13 goals in the Dutch second tier secured a move to Fortuna Sittard in the Eredivisie, where he scored 27 across two seasons and tempted Millwall to sign him for £2.5million.
It seemed like a bargain as Flemming scored 15 in his first season and struck a successful partnership with Tom Bradshaw.
At Millwall, he played mostly as a number 10 off Bradshaw, before joining Burnley on deadline day in August 2024, initially on loan with an obligation to make the move permanent for £7m.
Flemming scored 12 Championship goals in the promotion campaign but is starting to flourish for the Clarets this season, being deployed him more often as an out-and-out centre forward.
His evolution at Turf Moor has been typical of elsewhere during his career. He has rarely exploded but has gradually made the step up to each new challenge and become vital to the team.
He has become Burnley’s star striker, with as many goals as Jaidon Anthony despite making nine fewer starts in the Premier League. An interesting summer – which could include a stop in North America – awaits.
