Hull City owner Acun Ilicali has made a bold prediction for Oli McBurnie, having claimed that he expects him to match one Jarrod Bowen record previously set in 2020.
In spite of the EFL restricting Hull City from spending fees on players this summer, Acun Ilicali and Jared Dublin, the Head of Recruitment, still managed a productive transfer window.
After the Tigers struggled in front of goal last season under both Tim Walter and Ruben Selles, having finished as the 2024/25 Championship’s lowest scorers, Hull City signed Oli McBurnie on a free.
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Ilicali was able to beat fellow Championship sides Sheffield United, Swansea City and Ipswich Town to the signing of McBurnie after he departed La Liga side Las Palmas.
McBurnie already has one goal to his name, alongside three assists, and that start to the campaign has given Ilicali hope that the Scottish forward can match one Championship record previously set by Jarrod Bowen in the 2019/20 season.
Jarrod Bowen of Hull City
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Hull City striker Oli McBurnie predicted to score 15 goals by Acun Ilicali and match Jarrod Bowen
Oli McBurnie was Hull City’s blockbuster signing this summer, and he has already impressed Acun Ilicali at the MKM Stadium.
This has led to the Tigers’ owner praising the forward on Turkish TV, having said: “I got a new striker for Hull City, you gotta watch him. Unbelievable stuff. Oli McBurnie, don’t forget that name. He’ll score 15+ goals in the Championship.”
The last time that a Hull City player scored 15+ in a Championship season was Jarrod Bowen, who absurdly managed 16 goals in 29 appearances from right wing before West Ham United snapped him up in the January transfer window.
The only other three Hull City players to manage 15+ Championship goals in a single campaign are Abel Hernandez, Matty Fryatt, and Fraizer Campbell.
As for McBurnie, he has only managed to hit that tally in the Championship once, having bagged 22 for Swansea City in the 2018/19 Championship season.
Oliver McBurnie of Hull City celebrates
Photo by Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hull City’s season hopes rest on Oli McBurnie
Last season, it was clear that Hull City severely lacked a goalscorer.
Joao Pedro topped the list for goals for the Tigers, but he only managed six, which is the lowest that Hull City’s top scorer has scored since the 2013/14 Premier League season.
As a result, Oli McBurnie has been brought in to rectify that issue, and while Hull City also have the capabilities of Joe Gelhardt, as well as Enis Destan, the pressure will be on the Scottish forward to perform.
Hull City did very well to bring in McBurnie this summer, otherwise the prospects of survival would be significantly hampered.