PERUVIAN number one Diego Penny met up with his new team mates today (Saturday), admitting that joining Burnley is a dream move.

The 6ft 5in goalkeeper is walking tall after finally arriving in England to start a new chapter in a career that has so far been played out exclusively in South America.

Moving to Europe was always a burning ambition for the 24-year-old former Coronel Bolognesi captain.

And Penny, who has declared himself match fit and ready for action, is ready to hit the ground running on the Clarets' pre-season tour of Scotland.

Diego Penny and Owen Coyle board the coach for Scotland

The 24-year-old, whose fluent Spanish tongue is complimented by an excellent grasp of the English language, said: "This is my first opportunity to play in Europe and I hope that I can play at Burnley for a lot of years because this is the next important step in my education.

"The important thing for me is to play at a higher level.

"I have spent my whole career playing in Peru, but I have watched the English game on TV and I feel it can improve me as a player."

Penny recognises that he leaves Bolognesi on a high after leading them to the 2007 Primera Division Clausura, which in turn qualified the club for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in the club's history.

And after another history lesson with Barnsley striker and fellow countryman Miguel Mostto - who ironically scored his only goal in English football against Burnley in October 2007 before ending the season at Bolognesi on loan - the Peruvian international was convinced that Turf Moor was the right move.

"I've had five enjoyable years at Coronel Bolognesi, where I was their longest serving player and captain," explained Penny.

"They have been good to me and I hope I have been good for them.

"It is a club that opened doors for me and I am very happy be leaving at such a high point in their history after winning the 2007 Primera Division Clausura and being in the Copa Libertadores.

"Coronel is only a small club and it is a statement in Peru.

"When news came of Burnley wanting to sign me the supporters there said they were delighted for me, so I feel I leave the club in a good position and on good terms."

He added: "I spoke to Miguel (Mostto) and he told me he had played against Burnley and they were a very good club.

"I had already had a good talk with the Burnley manager and when I knew he was ready to offer me a contract I was very happy with my decision."

The wait since then has been a frustrating one for all concerned, while Burnley sought a work permit for a player who has finally established himself as the number one goalkeeper in Peru, after playing in two World Cup qualifiers in November 2007, against Brazil and Ecuador.

But the South American stopper, who cited playing against Brazil as the highlight of his career to date, was always confident in the outcome of the work permit hearing.

He said: "It has been difficult waiting for the permit and the visa to come through.

"Naturally, you want to join your new team as soon as possible, but I have waited patiently because I was always confident of getting the work permit.

"The rules say you need to be selected for 75 per cent of all the international games and I have this because I have been in the Peru squad, even though the coach may not have played me.

"Now I feel my career is moving forwards, both for my country and for Burnley, and I look forward to getting started.

"I know I will have strong competition and it is important for any player to have a good relationship with the other goalkeepers.

"We will work hard together and in the end the coach is the one who has to choose just one, but if he selects me I can only try to do my best for Burnley."

Follow the Clarets and Diego's progress in Scotland all the way with www.burnleyfc.com

We will have full match reports and reaction to all the games in Scotland, with EXCLUSIVE Clarets World footage and interviews throughout the tour, which starts at Queen of the South on Saturday, July 19, then sees the Clarets face Partick Thistle (Monday, 7.30pm) and closes with Owen Coyle and Sandy Stewart's return to St Johnstone (Wednesday, 7.30pm).