Ireland striker Jon Walters swaps Stoke City for Tallaght-bound Burnley

Republic of Ireland international striker Jonathan Walters has joined the Irish contingent at Premier League Burnley after the Lancashire club agreed a transfer fee with Stoke City.

The Wirral native, who qualifies for Ireland through his Dublin-born mother, could make his first appearance for his new club when they take on Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght next Friday.

Burnley descend on Ireland for a pre-season training camp on Monday where Irish players Robbie Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Stephen Ward and Kevin Long will join up with the rest of the squad.

32-year-old Walters has spent the last seven years in the Premier League with the Potters, having joined from Ipswich Town ahead of the 2010-11 season.

The striker came through the youth ranks at Blackburn Rovers but left without making an appearance before making his Premier League debut for nearby Bolton Wanderers at 19.

Walters dropped down the leagues in England with Hull City, Wrexham and Chester City, and it was with Chester that he caught they eye of Ipswich, to whom he completed a move in 2007.

He worked under current Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane while at Ipswich but, having failed to win promotion with the East Anglia side, he accepted a move to top-flight Stoke after three years.