Why Dan Burn only has nine fingers as Newcastle star missing digit due to gruesome childhood accident

Dan Burn has starred for Newcastle throughout recent seasons and his sheer size makes him hard to miss. But as his crunching tackles and dressing room dances keep him in the spotlight, many fans have been surprised to find out that the Magpies’ 6ft 7in colossus is actually missing a finger! He made his Premier League debut in 2014 but fans have just noticed Burn is missing a fingerGetty Burn has gone from strength to strength since he sealed a £13million move from Brighton back to his boyhood club in the 2022 January transfer window. The 32-year-old quickly installed himself as a rock at the back for Eddie Howe‘s Newcastle and he has now made over 100 appearances for the club. However, every time Burn appears on television screens the same question continues to surface from fans watching at home. He is closing in on 500 senior career games but surprisingly the story of his finger actually has nothing to do with football. According to reports, the centre-back is without his ring finger on his right hand following an accident he was involved in as a teenager. Back when he was just 13, Burn was wearing a ring while climbing a fence when it caught on a spike, as per The Free Library. The gruesome incident led to his finger being ripped off which must have been a horrific moment for the youngster. But Burn has more than overcome the adversity to make it as a professional and eventually become a fan-favourite at St James’ Park. He also isn’t afraid to make light of his missing digit, as he laughed with teammates about it this summer. As Newcastle travelled to Germany ahead of the current Premier League season, they visited Adidas HQ. Dan Burn is a fan favourite at NewcastleGetty But not many know he overcame the loss of a finger to build a successful careerGetty While there, Burn, Harvey Barnes and Sean Longstaff tried on goalkeeper gloves which were meant for five fingers, of course. As he pulled them on, all three burst into laughter and Burn wiggled the spare glove finger around in the air. The defender is more than comfortable with his hands and it doesn’t seem to impact his performances. In fact, he’s been playing so well for Newcastle that he was handed a contract extension in October. After originally signing a new deal last year, he had an option triggered by the club to keep him until 2026. So we’ve still got a couple more years of Burn being spotted having only three fingers on his right hand!

Nov 23, 2024 - 05:07
 1180
Why Dan Burn only has nine fingers as Newcastle star missing digit due to gruesome childhood accident

Dan Burn has starred for Newcastle throughout recent seasons and his sheer size makes him hard to miss.

But as his crunching tackles and dressing room dances keep him in the spotlight, many fans have been surprised to find out that the Magpies’ 6ft 7in colossus is actually missing a finger!

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 10: Dan Burn of Newcastle United (L) controls the ball during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest FC and Newcastle United FC at City Ground on November 10, 2024 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Paul Bonser/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
He made his Premier League debut in 2014 but fans have just noticed Burn is missing a finger
Getty

Burn has gone from strength to strength since he sealed a £13million move from Brighton back to his boyhood club in the 2022 January transfer window.

The 32-year-old quickly installed himself as a rock at the back for Eddie Howe‘s Newcastle and he has now made over 100 appearances for the club.

However, every time Burn appears on television screens the same question continues to surface from fans watching at home.

He is closing in on 500 senior career games but surprisingly the story of his finger actually has nothing to do with football.

According to reports, the centre-back is without his ring finger on his right hand following an accident he was involved in as a teenager.

Back when he was just 13, Burn was wearing a ring while climbing a fence when it caught on a spike, as per The Free Library.

The gruesome incident led to his finger being ripped off which must have been a horrific moment for the youngster.

But Burn has more than overcome the adversity to make it as a professional and eventually become a fan-favourite at St James’ Park.

He also isn’t afraid to make light of his missing digit, as he laughed with teammates about it this summer.

As Newcastle travelled to Germany ahead of the current Premier League season, they visited Adidas HQ.

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Dan Burn of Newcastle United reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Newcastle United FC at Stamford Bridge on October 27, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Prior/Visionhaus via Getty Images)
Dan Burn is a fan favourite at Newcastle
Getty
But not many know he overcame the loss of a finger to build a successful career
Getty

While there, Burn, Harvey Barnes and Sean Longstaff tried on goalkeeper gloves which were meant for five fingers, of course.

As he pulled them on, all three burst into laughter and Burn wiggled the spare glove finger around in the air.

The defender is more than comfortable with his hands and it doesn’t seem to impact his performances.

In fact, he’s been playing so well for Newcastle that he was handed a contract extension in October.

After originally signing a new deal last year, he had an option triggered by the club to keep him until 2026.

So we’ve still got a couple more years of Burn being spotted having only three fingers on his right hand!