Newcastle United defender Dan Burn received his first England call-up back in March 2025, aged 32, after impressing new head coach Thomas Tuchel. The 6ft 7in centre-back, who began his career with Darlington before riding through the ranks and eventually securing a move to St James’ Park in 2022, went on to make his international debut against Albania.

More football fans have since noticed that Burn only has three fingers on his right hand. While the missing digit clearly hasn’t affected the defender on his quest to reach the top of his profession, the story behind it is rather gruesome.

Dan Burn Lost His Finger When He Was 13

According to Free Library, the defender was involved in a nasty accident during his teenage years. It’s understood that the current Magpies star was wearing a ring when he decided to scale a fence aged 13. This was later confirrmed by the man himself during an interview with Sky Sports in May 2025.

Burn elaborated publicly for the first time: “So I’d been out with some friends, and I was showing off in front of a group of girls. I think a rabbit has gotten out and got into a community centre. I jumped the fence, not knowing there was a gate around the corner, and I was wearing a ring. It was a ring I was given off my grandad, so it was made out of an old shilling – sort of solid.

“I couldn’t see it as I was wearing a waterproof. My hand went numb, so I thought I’d broken my arm or something. I lifted the jacket off and I was like ‘wow, that’s not right’.”

Asked if it impacts his life, Burn said that it doesn’t now, but he used to lose change when going through a McDonald’s Drive Thru as the money would fall through his hands. “I would have to leave it and just drive off,” he said. He added that contactless payment has made his life a lot easier in that respect.

One can only imagine how painful that must have been at the time. However, the injury hasn’t stopped Burn from enjoying an incredible career as a professional footballer.

Burn Joined His Hometown Team in 2022

Once Newcastle were taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund during the 2021-22 season, the north-east outfit immediately set to work on putting together a side that was capable of remaining in the Premier League, before ultimately challenging for a spot in the top half of the table. They were in the middle of a relegation battle when the takeover occurred in October 2021, and by the time January 2022 rolled around, the club made moves in the transfer window.

One of the first names they brought in was Burn. The defender was having a stellar season with Brighton & Hove Albion at the time and, from the outside, the decision to move to a Newcastle side that was below the Seagulls in the table seemed a little bizarre. But as a lifelong Magpies supporter, it was an easy call for the defender.

In hindsight, it was a smart move, too. Burn has been a consistent figure in the backline for the Magpies as they’ve gone from relegation candidates to Champions League competitors and even Carabao Cup finalists. Now he’s earned several England caps under Tuchel and could find himself on the plane to the 2026 World Cup finals.

Burn Was Released By Newcastle at 11

Growing up as a Newcastle fan, Burn had aspirations of playing for the club in the Premier League from an early age. Being part of the side’s youth academy, he had a chance, but once he was released by the Magpies at just 11 years old, it looked as though those dreams were dashed.

The defender refused to give up on his goal of becoming a professional footballer, though, playing for several local teams throughout his younger years, including Blyth Spartans. He even got a job working at supermarket Asda while playing for the club when he was 16. Fortunately, the Englishman was scouted by Darlington, and after signing for the Quakers, things only improved. After two years with the team, Fulham snapped him up and Burn went from a national league player to a Premier League prospect in moments.

He had to wait for his chance in the top flight, spending two seasons on loan at Yeovil Town and Birmingham City respectively, before he got a run in the Cottagers’ side. They were swiftly relegated, though, and after a couple of years in the second tier with the club, he moved to Wigan Athletic. The Latics saw something in the defender and he became a vital figure for the club over the course of two years. Then, the Premier League came calling once again, and he left Lancashire for Brighton and the south coast.

After spending two and a half seasons helping the Seagulls establish themselves as a top-half Premier League club, he finally got the chance to play for his beloved Newcastle, and he didn’t hesitate. What a decision that turned out to be.