Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce that Ben Mee has today signed a permanent three-and-a-half-year deal with the Clarets.
The versatile Manchester City defender has been a first team regular since arriving on a season-long loan from the Etihad Stadium last July.
And the two clubs have now agreed an undisclosed fee that will see the 22-year-old remain at Turf Moor until the summer of 2015.
“I have no problem in flying the nest. It’s a good club here as well,” said the 22-year-old, who came through the Academy ranks at the Etihad Stadium to captain City’s 2008 FA Youth Cup winning side.
“Obviously the money is different but that doesn’t always help.
“We’ve got a good squad here, good togetherness and that’s what I really like.
“Some of the money that comes in maybe stops a little bit of that togetherness but we’ve definitely got that here.
“Everyone here is really nice and together and that’s a big part of it.
“I think we can go on and do something this season and if not we have got a good young squad and next season will be a big season as well for us.
“But we are looking at this season. The manager wants us to push up there this season and I think we can.”
Mee has started 22 games for the Clarets since signing on loan last summer, alternating between the left-back role and a more central defensive position.
The former England under-21 international has grown in stature over the past few weeks and wants to continue that progress after wasting no time in turning his initial season-long loan into a permanent stay at Turf Moor.
“I want to do well personally and if I do that hopefully the team will do well collectively as well,” Mee added.
“Initially I suppose it was ‘see how you go and see what happens.’
“But I have been enjoying myself and the manager has been really good to me, bringing me on loan and putting a lot of trust in me, so everything worked out really well.
“At the start of the season I looked at the club and spoke to the manager and he wanted to play me.
“I’m really pleased with the way it’s gone, especially over the past couple of months with that run we’ve been on.
“I think we’ve got a really good squad and I think we can do really good things here.”