Ex Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United star with 278 Premier League appearances made free agent

Former Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United midfielder Jonjo Shelvey has been made a free agent following his release from Championship side Burnley at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

The Clarets confirmed that two first team players would quit Turf Moor this summer as the club prepares for a return to the Premier League. Scott Parker’s side secured automatic promotion in the Championship this season, finishing second and level on points with Champions Leeds United.

A statement from the club on Monday read: “Burnley Football Club’s retained list has been submitted, confirming the permanent signings of four on-loan men’s team players.

Ex Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United midfielder released by Burnley

“Two men’s team players will depart the Club, while negotiations are still ongoing with others. Jeremy Sarmiento will return to Brighton & Hove Albion following his time at Burnley, whilst Nathan Redmond and Jonjo Shelvey will both depart the Clarets upon expiry of their contracts on 30th June.

“Burnley Football Club thank all the leaving players for their contributions and wish them all the very best for their future career.”

Shelvey only arrived at Burnley at the end of January and signed a short-term contract. He made just four appearances for the club, two cameos from the bench in the Championship and two outings in the FA Cup against Southampton and Preston North End.

The 33-year-old had spent seven years at Newcastle United between 2016 and 2023 before moving to Nottingham Forest for an undisclosed fee. Shelvey only played eight times for Forest before stints with Turkish sides Çaykur Rizespor and Eyüpspor.

The experienced midfielder is a product of the Charlton Athletic academy, having also spent time in the youth set-ups at West Ham and Chelsea. Shelvey spent two years in the Addicks first team before moving to Liverpool in 2010. He scored eight goals and seven assists in 49 Charlton Athletic appearances.

Jonjo Shelvey rise to prominence at The Valley

Former Charlton Athletic academy manager Steve Avory reflected on Shelvey’s emergence at The Valley when speaking to the club website in 2019. He said: “Jonjo Shelvey came to us at U11, when our Head of Recruitment at the time, signed him from Arsenal when he was released. He came here on trial. We liked the look of him from day one. Jonjo was probably one of the most naturally gifted footballers that I’ve worked with.

“People ask what did I do with a player like Jonjo. With a player like him, much like Ademola Lookman, you just had to make sure you let them be as creative as they wanted to be because they had that ability. We had to nurture and encourage that and allow it to happen because Jonjo had all of that in his locker. That ability to score goals, take the grip of the game by himself really. Not many players could do that but he could. He was a good lad to work with as well, all through the journey.

“In terms of that progression, I think he went into the first team earlier than expected. I believe he was one of the youngest to make his debut here. He was not even 17 when Alan Pardew gave him his debut, I think at Barnsley. Initially when they are selected to the first team the manager has to have an aptitude, as I thought Alan Pardew did at the time, for being able to manage him. He would always come back into Under 18 football. You just have to, at times, give players a reality check in terms of what they’re coming back to and hope that they’re mature enough to deal with it and I felt Jonjo always was because he made that spring to the first team at a very young, ripe age but didn’t really look back many times.”

In other news, Charlton Athletic handed Nathan Jones boost ahead of Leyton Orient play-off final.