Christian Burgess

Christian Burgess
Burgess for KAA Gent in 2026
Personal information
Full name Christian Albert Elliot Burgess[1]
Date of birth (1991-10-07) 7 October 1991
Place of birth Barking, London, England
Height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)[2]
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Gent
Youth career
Arsenal
West Ham United
Bishop's Stortford
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Middlesbrough 1 (0)
2013–2014 → Hartlepool United (loan) 41 (0)
2014 → Peterborough United (loan) 1 (0)
2014–2015 Peterborough United 30 (3)
2015–2020 Portsmouth 173 (10)
2020–2026 Union SG 200 (15)
2026– Gent 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 August 2026

Christian Albert Elliot Burgess (born 7 October 1991) is an English professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Belgian Pro League club Gent.

Career

Youth career

Burgess began his career at Arsenal's academy and after he was released he went on to play with the youth and reserves teams at non-League Bishop's Stortford before deciding to study history at the University of Birmingham. Whilst in his second year of university, Burgess earned a trial at Middlesbrough through a coach of the university's first team.

Middlesbrough

He impressed at Boro and he signed a two-year contract in July 2012.[3] He made his professional debut on 4 May 2013 in a 2–0 defeat away at Sheffield Wednesday.[4]

Hartlepool United

He joined Hartlepool United on loan in August 2013.[5] The loan deal was extended until the end of the season in December.[6] Burgess scored his first goal in professional football in a 5–0 win for Hartlepool in a Football League Trophy game against Bradford City in September 2013.[7]

Peterborough United

On 19 August 2014, Burgess signed on a month's loan for Peterborough United.[8] He completed a single game on loan, a 2–1 home defeat by Sheffield United, before completing a permanent transfer on 21 August 2014. Burgess signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[9][10]

Portsmouth

On 25 June 2015, Burgess signed for south coast club Portsmouth as part of the summer overhaul at the club by new manager Paul Cook.

He went on to make his debut on 11 July 2015, in a pre-season friendly against local Conference South club Havant & Waterlooville.

During the 2015–16 season, in which Portsmouth reached the play-off semi-finals, Burgess made 43 appearances in all competitions, partnered in most games by either Matthew Clarke or Adam Webster.

Following a successful first campaign for Pompey, during which he established himself as the club's first-choice centre back, Burgess began the 2016–17 season as one of the team's central figures. In total, Burgess made 45 appearances and scored four goals over the course of the season, as Portsmouth won the League Two title. Burgess, along with teammate and fellow defender Enda Stevens, was named in the League Two team of the year; a reward for their part in Portsmouth's league-best defensive record.[11]

Burgess was awarded the EFL League One Player of the Month award in January 2020 and won the award for Portsmouth Player of the Season in the same year.

Union SG

Burgess turned down a contract extension at Portsmouth and on 7 July 2020 joined Belgian First Division B club Union SG, signing a three-year deal with the option of an additional year.[12] He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 victory against Club NXT. At the end of the season Union were promoted, securing the second league title of Burgess' career. Burgess was named in the Division 1B Team of the Season.[13]

On 21 November 2021, Burgess scored twice in a 7–1 victory against Oostende.[14] The team finished first in the regular season of their return campaign to the Belgian Pro League, although they ultimately finished runners-up after the championship play-offs.[15]

The following year, Union again qualified for the championship play-offs after finishing level on points with Genk.[16] In a close title race on the final day, Burgess and Union conceded three late goals against Club Brugge, allowing Antwerp to claim the title by a single point.[17] During the season, Burgess missed only three league matches and earned the nickname "Air Burgey" in recognition of his aerial ability.[18]

In the 2023–24 season, Burgess helped Union win the Belgian Cup, the first major cup title of his career.[19] Union also mounted another challenge for the league championship, ultimately finishing second in the 2023–24 Belgian Pro League, one point behind Club Brugge.[20] In the 2024–25 season, Burgess helped Union secure their first Belgian league title in 90 years.[21] He made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 3–1 away win over PSV Eindhoven on 16 September 2025.[22] He added a second Belgian Cup winner's medal in the 2025–26 season.[23] Following the conclusion of the 2025–26 campaign, Burgess announced that he would leave Union Saint-Gilloise at the expiration of his contract after six seasons with the club.[24]

KAA Gent

On 15 June 2026, Burgess joined fellow Belgian Pro League side KAA Gent on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal.[25]

Personal life

He earned a BA Hons in history part-time at Teesside University,[26] having previously studied history at University of Birmingham before his move to Middlesbrough. Burgess is also a vegan.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 27 August 2026[28]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Middlesbrough 2012–13[29] Championship 100000——10
2013–14[30] Championship 00————00
2014–15[31] Championship 00————00
Total 100000——10
Hartlepool United (loan) 2013–14[30] League Two 4102010—2[c]1461
Peterborough United 2014–15[31][d] League One 3032200—1[c]0335
Portsmouth 2015–16[32] League Two 3724000—2[e]0432
2016–17[33] League Two 4441000—00454
2017–18[34] League One 3501010—2[f]0390
2018–19[35] League One 2512011—10[g]0382
2019–20[36] League One 3235130—5[h]0454
Total 1731013151—19021012
Union SG 2020–21[37] Belgian First Division B 27230———302
2021–22[38] Belgian Pro League 34421———365
2022–23 Belgian Pro League 37540—12[i]1—536
2023–24 Belgian Pro League 37140—11[j]1—522
2024–25 Belgian Pro League 30130—9[k]0—421
2025–26 Belgian Pro League 35250—8[l]01[m]0492
Total 20015211—4021026218
KAA Gent 2026–27 Belgian Pro League 2000—6[n]1—81
Career total 447253846146323156034
  1. ↑ Includes FA Cup, Belgian Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Football League Cup
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Football League Trophy
  4. ↑ Burgess made one appearance for Peterborough United on loan from Middlesbrough before signing permanently in the summer transfer window
  5. ↑ Appearances in League Two play-offs
  6. ↑ Appearances in EFL Trophy
  7. ↑ Eight appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
  8. ↑ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in EFL League One play-offs
  9. ↑ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, ten in UEFA Europa League
  10. ↑ Eight appearances in UEFA Europa League, three in UEFA Conference League
  11. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  12. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  13. ↑ Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
  14. ↑ Appearances in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Portsmouth

Union SG

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Player profile: Christian Burgess".
  2. ↑ Anderson, John (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017-2018. Headline. p. 499. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
  3. ↑ "Christian Burgess handed Middlesbrough professional deal". BBC Sport. 4 July 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Sheff Wed 2–0 Middlesbrough". BBC Sport. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Hartlepool sign Middlesbrough's Christian Burgess on loan". BBC Sport. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "Cooper thrilled as Boro agree to let Dolan, Burgess extend Hartlepool loans". Sunderland Echo. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Five-star Pools find their scoring feet". Northern Echo. 3 September 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "BBC Sport - Middlesbrough's Christian Burgess joins Peterborough United". BBC Sport. 19 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "BBC Sport - Peterborough United 1-2 Sheffield United". BBC Sport.
  10. ↑ "Wyke Loaned/Burgess sold".
  11. ↑ "League Two (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
  12. ↑ Rooney, Will (7 July 2020). "Portsmouth defender Christian Burgess' completes move to Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise". The News. Portsmouth.co.uk.
  13. 1 2 "D1B Pro League XI van het seizoen // CENTRUMVERDEDIGER 1 // Christian Burgess (Union SG)" [D1B Pro League XI of the Season // CENTER DEFENDER 1 // Christian Burgess (Union SG)] (in Dutch). 6 May 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  14. ↑ "Royale Union Saint-Gilloise KV Oostende – Union SG: 1–7". rusg.brussels/en. 21 November 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  15. ↑ Times, The Brussels. "Union Saint-Gilloise finish second with a chance to play in the Champions League". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  16. ↑ Times, The Brussels. "Union Saint-Gilloise tipped as favourites to win the league in playoffs". The Brussels Times. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  17. ↑ Onyeagwara, Will Jeanes and Nnamdi (4 June 2023). "Royal Antwerp win Belgian title after 94th-minute Alderweireld wonder goal". The Athletic. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
  18. ↑ Allen, Neil (16 May 2023). "Air Burgey is still flying high - the ex-Portsmouth favourite now adored by a new fan base amid pursuit of glory". portsmouth.co.uk.
  19. ↑ "Union won the Belgian Cup, their first trophy since 1935". Royal Belgian Football Association. 9 May 2024.
  20. ↑ "Club Brugge win Belgium title after late surge in championship playoffs". Reuters. 26 May 2024.
  21. ↑ "Union Saint-Gilloise wins first Belgian league title in 90 years". FOX Sports. 23 June 2025.
  22. ↑ "PSV Eindhoven 1–3 Union St.-Gilloise". ESPN. 16 September 2025.
  23. ↑ "Union Saint Gilloise beat Anderlecht to win Belgian Cup". Reuters. 14 May 2026.
  24. ↑ "Christian Burgess leaves Union after 6 successful seasons". Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. 31 May 2026.
  25. ↑ "Christian Burgess leaves Union Saint-Gilloise for AA Gent on a free transfer". brusselstimes.com. 16 June 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  26. ↑ "Christian Burgess: The Hartlepool United defender keen to learn". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  27. ↑ Burgess, Christian (25 November 2023). "'Het is niet omdat je een voetballer bent, dat je moet zwijgen'". De Standaard (Interview). Interviewed by De Muynck, Ellen; Lagae, Bart. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  28. ↑ "Christian Burgess". flashscore.com.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  30. 1 2 "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  31. 1 2 "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  32. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Christian Burgess in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  37. ↑ "C. Burgess: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  38. ↑ "England - C. Burgess - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  39. ↑ Anderson, John, ed. (2017). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2017–2018. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 298–299. ISBN 978-1-4722-3397-4.
  40. ↑ Williams, Adam (31 March 2019). "Portsmouth 2–2 Sunderland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  41. ↑ "Union Saint-Gilloise end 90-year wait for Belgian league title". Reuters. 25 May 2025. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  42. ↑ "Union St Gilloise end 110 year wait for third Belgian Cup victory". One Football. 9 May 2024. Retrieved 10 May 2024.
  43. ↑ "Royale Union Saint-Gilloise edge Anderlecht in extra time to win Belgian Cup". flashscore.com. 14 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "PFA teams of the year: Chelsea and Tottenham dominate Premier League XI". BBC Sport. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  45. ↑ Burgess Wins PFA Award
  46. ↑ Burgess Named Player Of The Season
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