Finley Burns

Following his move to Reading, Burns's current-season form is up 340% on last season (Season 5→22), while his Rating eased 56→44. His peak season for form remains 2023/24 (Season 39).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Reading · 12th	32	0	6.64	44	22
2024/25	Hull CityLoan · 21st	9	0	6.78	56	5
2023/24	Stevenage · 9th	37	3	6.76	50	39
2021/22	Manchester City	1	0	6.7	—	—
2021/22	SwanseaLoan · 15th	3	0	6.47	59	3

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 12 youth-team spells in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthBall-winning Central defender

F. Burns is a 23-year-old central defender at Reading, rated 44.1 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 126th of 485 on scout potential in the League One. An emerging talent, he has been a rotation option this season (48.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 5.25 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Burns.

Judged on this season alone, Burns graded 22 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 41st of 97 of the 97 centre-backs in the League One, on 4 clean sheets and 5.246 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a clear step up on last season (Season 5 → 22). Over the 4 seasons on record his form has trended upward, peaking in 2023/24.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 44, top 17% of the 97 centre-backs in the League One. At 23 Burns is still climbing toward his ceiling, and a market index of 9.8 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2023/24 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2023/24Trending downBreakout: 2025/26Stepped up 2024/254 clubs

Current potentialTop 17% centre-backs · League One Current season41st of 97 centre-backs · League One41st-best centre-back in the League One126th in the League One · potential16th-highest potential centre-back in the League One

44.1

Ratingi

16th of 97 centre-backs

22.2

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

48.1%

Minutes

rotation minutes

5.25

Def. actions / 90

high defensive volume

Output in context · Reading finished 12th of 24 · a mid-table side

5.25

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

5.25 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — high defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 32 appearances.

Strengths

Defensive volume. 5.25 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — does the unseen work.

Watch points

Game time. Only 48.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 44.1, Burns carries the 16th-highest potential of the centre-backs in the League One (top 17%). Defensively he reads as high defensive volume (5.25 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Approaching peak years; value is still building (price multiplier 2×) with the best seasons likely ahead.

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %48.1%

Available fixtures46 of 46

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 905.246

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Pass accuracy %79

Dribble success %50

Cards / 900.271

Foul involvement / 901.176

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~10), then tapers with age. At 23, Burns sits on 9.8, at or near its peak. The blue line is Burns's projected Rating — 44.1 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the League One with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots3

Passing

Assists0

Chances created3

Passes1,067

Pass accuracy79%

Possession

Successful dribbles3

Dribble success50%

Duels won146

Duels won %64.3%

Fouls won5

Defending

Tackles48

Interceptions52

Blocks16

Fouls committed21

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards6

Red cards0

Transfer history

Manchester City(back from loan)2026/27 – now

Readinguntil 2026/27

Manchester City(back from loan)2025/26 – 2026/27

Hull City(on loan)2024/25 – 2025/26

Manchester City(back from loan)2022/23 – 2024/25

Swansea(on loan)2021/22 – 2022/23

Manchester Cityuntil 2021/22

About F. Burns

Finley Jack Burns is a 23-year-old centre-back who plays for Reading, born on June 17, 2003 in London, standing 191 cm tall. He is from England. Reading currently sit 12th of 24 in the League One.

This season

In the current season, F. Burns has made 32 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 1,990 minutes, averaging a 6.61 match rating over his last 9 rated games, with 6 yellow cards. His season has spanned the League One and the League Cup.

When F. Burns plays, Reading's record this season is 13W-9D-11L — and his match ratings average 6.76 at home against 6.59 on the road.

Recent matches

May 2, 2026: 0-1 loss at home vs Blackpool (20 minutes, 6.5 rating)
April 25, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Rotherham (90 minutes, 6.6 rating)
April 18, 2026: 1-3 loss at home vs Cardiff (90 minutes, 5.3 rating)
April 6, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Lincoln (90 minutes, 7.3 rating)
March 21, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Stevenage (22 minutes, 6.3 rating)
March 17, 2026: 2-1 win away at Burton Albion (63 minutes, 7.3 rating)
March 10, 2026: 0-1 loss away at Mansfield Town (90 minutes, 7 rating)
March 7, 2026: 3-2 win away at Luton (1 minutes)
February 28, 2026: 2-1 win at home vs Bradford (11 minutes, 6.9 rating)
February 21, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Port Vale (13 minutes, 6.3 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates F. Burns at 44.1 with a Season form score of 22.2, ranking 126th of 485 centre-backs in the League One. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the Premier League 2 and the U18 Premier League. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 8 recorded seasons, F. Burns has totalled 166 club appearances with 0 goals and 3 assists for 9 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2023/24, with 37 appearances for Stevenage.

F. Burns's career has also included time at Manchester City, Hull City and Swansea.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Reading finished 12th of 24 · a mid-table side

Strengths

Watch points