ASTON VILLA CONFIRM CAPTURE OF CHAMPIONSHIP MIDFIELDER
Aston Villa have confirmed the return of Ross Barkley to the Premier League club on a permanent deal, three years after a loan spell at the club.
He arrives after spending the 2023-24 season at Luton Town and is one of three players to arrive at Villa Park as the club prepares for the Champions League next season.
Villa confirmed the news on the club’s website, where they stated…
“Aston Villa is delighted to announce the signing of Ross Barkley from Luton Town. Barkley returns to Villa Park having enjoyed a loan spell in claret and blue during the 2020/21 season.”
Earlier on Monday, Villa, who will be playing in Europe’s elite competition next season for the first time since 1982, announced the double signing of Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus.
Previous loan success
Barkley joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea in September 2020 and scored on his home debut, a 7-2 win over Liverpool.
In total he played 24 games, scoring three times. However, he was unable to play in front of fans due to the pandemic.
He will finally get the chance to do that when Villa open the season at West Ham on 17 August, before hosting Arsenal the following weekend.
Wealth of experience
Barkley made his Premier League debut for Everton against Queens Park Rangers in 2011, but after loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United during 2012-13, the following season saw his real breakthrough at Goodison Park.
In total he played 179 times for the Toffees, scoring 27 goals.
He joined Chelsea for £15 million in January 2018, playing exactly 100 games and scoring 12 goals across four and a half years before spending the 2022-23 season in Ligue 1 with Nice.
He then returned to the Premier League with Luton last summer.
Targeting silverware
Barkley was not shy about laying out his ambitions following his move, telling club media:
“For me, everyone else at the club and the fans, the ambition is to win a trophy. The club came so close last season and were unfortunate. With the additions we’ve got it’s going to be pivotal this season. Hopefully we can win a trophy.”
The 30-year-old also expressed how impressed he has been since his last spell at the club, saying:
“Over the last few years the club has made huge strides since I was last here. From the outside looking in, it’s looked fantastic.”
With the transfer now confirmed, Barkley is likely to be firmly focused on helping Aston Villa in their upcoming Champions League and Premier League campaigns, with their bonus being Luton’s setback.
The post Aston Villa Confirm Capture Of Championship Midfielder first appeared on The Deck.
2024-07-01T17:25:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd