SEAN Dyche hailed Michael Keane as a 'fantastic servant' for Burnley after the defender's club record move to Everton.

The 24-year-old penned a five-year deal at Goodison Park and the move netted the Clarets £25million up front, with a further £5million due in add-ons.

Keane enjoyed three memorable years at Turf Moor and last season he was voted players' player of the year by his teammates, as well as winning his first two England caps and being nominated for the Professional Footballers' Association young player of the year award.

The move to Everton is vindication for Burnley's decision to reject a £15million bid from Leicester City 12 months ago, and Dyche said he felt then that Keane had more to achieve with the Clarets.

"I mentioned last year to him and to the world, when people were chasing after him, that I thought he had more to do at Burnley, before he moves on," the Turf chief said.

"Now I think now he’s in a really good place to go on and take his career on again - and we can only thank him for what he’s done.

"He’s been a fantastic servant to us, both on and off the pitch."

Keane rejected a new four-year contract from Burnley in the wake of the Foxes bid last summer, and that meant he had just a year remaining on his deal now.

That made a move away from the club this summer likely and during the last campaign he was linked with most of the Premier League's top seven, and Dyche admits the former Manchester United youngster was always likely to move on at this stage of his career.

"The reality was that Michael was probably going to move," he said.

"It’s not about him wanting to leave; it’s just a natural progression.

"It’s fair to say that Everton have been in the Premier League for a very long time and they’re looking to get even stronger.

"They’re making a big investment there now and it’s a right move at the right time for him.

"I think Michael spoke very well about our club and about what he’s done here and rightly so, as he’s had a fantastic journey.

"If there’s ever been a time in my management career when there’s something that you tell the story, or the projected future of, it was probably his story.

"When I first met Michael with his agent and his parents, I kind of guided him as to how I saw his future and he’s obviously played a massive part of gripping that himself and we’ve guided him towards that.

"There comes a time for some of these players when it’s probably appropriate they move on and I think on this occasion it is."