Burnley have signed Germany Under-20 goalkeeper Max Weiss from Karlsruher, as James Trafford continues to be linked with a move to Newcastle United.

The Clarets, who finished as runners-up to Leeds United in the Championship last term, will pay a reported £4.3m for Weiss, who played in all 34 of Karlsuher’s 2. Bundesliga games in 2024-25.

Weiss told Burnley’s website: “I’m really excited to be here. It’s an amazing club with a big ambition.

“All the conversations I have had with people from here have been so good and very positive.”

The 21-year-old is the first signing to arrive at Turf Moor ahead of their Premier League return and could take the number one shirt if Trafford departs.

Newcastle have been tipped to complete a deal in the region of £40m for Trafford, who kept 29 clean sheets in 45 Championship appearances last season.

That figure saw him equal an all-time English Football League record by a goalkeeper in a single season, level with Ray King for Port Vale in 1953-54 and Gillingham’s Jim Stannard in 1995-96.

According to Opta’s expected goals on target (xGoT) model, only Stoke’s Viktor Johansson (15.8) prevented more goals than Trafford (12.5) among Championship goalkeepers in 2024-25, with the Clarets goalkeeper registering a save percentage of 84.5%.

Burnley open their Premier League campaign at Tottenham on August 16, before hosting fellow promoted side Sunderland the following week.