When Burnley visit the [London Stadium](https://www.claretandhugh.info/london-stadium-bio/) on Saturday, within their team will be a familiar face, ex academy prospect, Josh Cullen.
Cullen joined West Ham United’s academy in 2005, spending a decade developing through the youth ranks before making his senior debut in 2015. A technically tidy midfielder with strong defensive instincts, Cullen was seen as part of the club’s next generation alongside [Declan Rice](https://www.claretandhugh.info/declan-rice/). However, despite his promise, Cullen managed only three senior appearances for the Hammers.
Several factors contributed to Cullen’s inability to establish himself at West Ham, including competition for places, managerial changes and loan spells – Cullen spent time at Bradford City, Bolton Wanderers, and Charlton Athletic. While these loans gave him valuable minutes, they also kept him away from the first-team environment at West Ham.
Cullen’s under £1 million sale still looks cheap
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Ultimately, West Ham sold Cullen in 2020 for less than £1 million, a decision that now looks short-sighted given his later success.
Cullen’s career took off at Anderlecht, where he became a reliable midfield presence under Vincent Kompany. His performances in Belgium showcased his maturity, tactical intelligence, and leadership qualities, earning him recognition as a consistent performer with average ratings above 7.0 across seasons.
In 2022, Cullen reunited with Kompany at Burnley, playing a pivotal role in their Championship-winning campaign. His tireless work rate and defensive discipline made him indispensable, and by 2025 he had been named Burnley’s captain, under the guidance of ex West Ham legend, Scott Parker. With over 120 appearances for the Clarets, and 35 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, Cullen has proven himself as a Premier League level midfielder and leader. Saturdays game will be a personal milestone for Cullen – returning to the London Stadium as Burnley’s captain, he embodies the player West Ham never fully trusted.