Calum Butcher has joined Burton Albion from Dundee United, the League One club have announced.

Butcher joins on a free transfer and has penned a two-year deal with the newly-promoted Brewers. The 24-year-old was offered a new contract up in Scotland, but he turned it down in favour of a move to England with Burton.

He admitted that the Sky Sports' documentary about manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was something that first attracted him to the club, speaking highly of how the programme showed "how the club was run, the facilities and the training at St. George's Park," and describing it all as "brilliant." 

Whilst Burton had yet to make their interest known when this was televised, once Butcher got the call telling him that they wanted to speak to him, he "knew [he] was happy to go and play there." He is already looking forward to the "really exciting season" ahead, and to workng with what is "already a very good squad."

Following their promotion to League One, Butcher also said he believes that Burton can compete in the division, describing "going up as champions" as "a massive thing." He realises the "winning mentality" that comes with this, and hopes that the team "can kick on and have a good season."

When asked about what he can add to the squad, the 24-year-old referred to his desire "to get in the opposition's box and make things happen." He also hopes his "energy" and willingness to "mix things up," but also "keep things simple," can benefit the team. As well as this, Butcher is keen to "add a few more goals to [his] game," showing that he is a motivated player who is always looking to improve.

The midfielder is Hasselbaink's second signing of the summer, following the arrival of Callum Reilly from Birmingham City, who had a short spell on loan with the Brewers last season.

Butcher came through Tottenham Hotspur's academy but failed to make a single appearance for the club before he moved to Denmark in 2011, joining FC Hjorring. He played 15 times for the Danish side, leaving after just one season to join Conference South's Hayes & Yeading United. Twenty-nine appearances and three goals later, Dundee United snapped up the midfielder in 2013, and he went on to play 21 games, scoring just the one goal, for the Scottish club before leaving this summer.

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Amee Ruszkai
Head of the Sunderland, Swansea City and women football sections at VAVEL UK. Email: [email protected]