Ross Barkley: Aston Villa sign Chelsea & England midfielder on season-long loan

Last updated on 30 September 2020.From the section Aston Villa1028

Ross Barkley celebrates scoring for Chelsea against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup — Barkley scored in his most recent appearance for Chelsea, a Carabao Cup victory over Barnsley

Aston Villa have signed England midfielder Ross Barkley from Chelsea on a season-long loan.

Barkley, who has 33 international caps, has been at Stamford Bridge since moving from Everton in January 2018.

The 26-year-old has played three times for Chelsea this season, scoring once.

"Capturing a player of Ross's quality is a real coup for our club and I am certain he will thrive here and improve our team," said Villa manager Dean Smith.

Barkley left boyhood club Everton following 179 appearances and 27 goals for the Toffees.

Barkley fires Chelsea into a 2-0 lead against Liverpool

The attacking midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea after the signings of forwards Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and winger Hakim Ziyech and is yet to start in the Premier League this season.

He scored in Chelsea's 6-0 third-round thrashing of Barnsley in the Carabao Cup.

Barkley is the fifth major signing for Villa this summer following the arrivals of winger Bertrand Traore from Lyon, striker Ollie Watkins from Brentford, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal and right-back Matty Cash from Nottingham Forest.

Analysis - 'Now or never for Barkley'

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty

Ross Barkley's move to Aston Villa continues a fine window for the club - but it now represents a defining stage in the career of this highly gifted England star.

The 26-year-old has never left any doubts about his talent as a creative force but nor has he ever performed with the prolonged consistency to fulfil the high hopes held for him since he was a teenager.

When he left Everton, his beloved boyhood club, in acrimonious fashion to move to Stamford Bridge, this was meant to be the springboard to the sort of career many expected Barkley to have for club and country.

It simply has not happened.

When he left Everton for Chelsea, it was meant to elevate Barkley to the highest stage.

It simply has not happened.

Barkley now finds himself attempting to rebuild the next crucial phase of his career at Villa Park, a place where you suspect he did not expect to end up at this stage.

Villa have started the season well, have bought ambitiously and have given Barkley a fresh start in a side already containing such fine talents as Jack Grealish.

It is a smart move by the club because they have signed a player on loan who now simply has to produce the goods regularly or risk forever being remembered as an unfulfilled talent.

It is now or never for Barkley.

Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page.

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1028 comments

Comment posted by southwestern, at 10:39 30 Sep 2020
Its a big IF - but ill throw it out there:

If you can get both grealish and barkley firing in the same team, thats a very dangerous combination. Would love to be a striker playing off those 2.

So many potential opportunities (i'd miss most of them mind!)
Reply posted by Doads, at 10:51 30 Sep 2020
Doads replied:
You forgot to mention John McGinn who is also playing well just now!
Comment posted by Vox Populi, at 10:40 30 Sep 2020
This is an excellent deal for the Villa.
Reply posted by liverpoolforlife, at 10:50 30 Sep 2020
liverpoolforlife replied:
couldn't agree more
Comment posted by iPlayer Account, at 10:46 30 Sep 2020
Villa have had a great transfer window.
Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 12:31 30 Sep 2020
LondonsFinestClub replied:
Totally agree. So happy for them and their players and mgt. team. Miracle last season and built on it brilliantly. Staying up without doubt.
Comment posted by lukewolvesfanww7, at 11:21 30 Sep 2020
Villa have done good business, a lot of my fellow Wolves fans have had a pop but Watkins and Barkley are very good signings. Them pair in tandem with Grealish will be a handful. Personally not a hate filled WWFC fan so i wish Villa well until they play us of course :)
Reply posted by phatlad, at 11:37 30 Sep 2020
phatlad replied:
So true as a villa fan the only other club we see as a big club in the Midlands are the wolves.....you have some tremendous players, a little shocked you sold jota, but hey let’s hope we both have great seasons
Comment posted by DaveP1982, at 10:48 30 Sep 2020
It wasnt long ago they loaned us Drinkwater so excuse my scepticism!
Reply posted by KingClarko, at 10:52 30 Sep 2020
KingClarko replied:
Excuse the overused and horrible pun, but I assumed Villa found out that he doesnt often actually opt to drink water...
Comment posted by Candy Kanes, at 10:40 30 Sep 2020
That’s a real coup for Villa. On his day he’s a great player. Hope you see the best of him.
Reply posted by David C, at 10:47 30 Sep 2020
David C replied:
"On his day"...yes, correct. However, having watched him for years at Everton...his day is the 29th February...
Comment posted by Fl33tabix, at 10:42 30 Sep 2020
Should've stayed at Everton...His career took a nosedive when he left. Hopefully he picks things back up now at Villa
Reply posted by christyjeb, at 10:54 30 Sep 2020
christyjeb replied:
Its about money not career
Comment posted by Walks619, at 10:44 30 Sep 2020
Good move for Villa and Barkley

I am adamant that Chelsea only signed him to up their English player quota, and had no interest in making him a better player
Reply posted by Bennyboy87, at 10:49 30 Sep 2020
Bennyboy87 replied:
Signing him for £15 million was a bargain not a bad player when on it.
Comment posted by KingClarko, at 10:47 30 Sep 2020
Now and again pops up with a banger, can spray the ball across the pitch brilliantly, but his decision making in the final 3rd are awful. Nearly always opting to have a crack and drag it wide or over rather than play anyone through. More time on the pitch at villa making him less desperate to put his name on the score sheet to cemement a starting 11 place would be good for him.
Reply posted by KingClarko, at 11:05 30 Sep 2020
KingClarko replied:
cem(em)ent....
Comment posted by Hope4Us, at 11:16 30 Sep 2020
As an EFC season ticket holder, I saw this guy loads of times - is talented, but rarely shows it. He's mentally weak, lazy and hides during games - he rarely affects a match and is a liability in midfield. His best season at Everton was Martinez' first - since then his careers gone downwards. He was only a bench-warmer whilst at a below-par Chelsea. File under "(occasionally) flatters to deceive".
Reply posted by martinz, at 15:16 30 Sep 2020
martinz replied:
That sounds like Dele Ali
Comment posted by Richard Smith, at 12:07 30 Sep 2020
Another young Evertonian who thought that the grass was greener (as well as the money) elsewhere - think Rodwell, Stones etc.... If they'd stayed at the club - regular first team football, regular England place etc. They need to remember that Everton never get relegated, and look what is happening now!
Reply posted by Rob, at 14:08 30 Sep 2020
Rob replied:
Never win anything either........
Comment posted by U18830943, at 10:45 30 Sep 2020
McGinn is a better all rounder than both Grealish and Barkley and more consistent.
Reply posted by Hard Labour, at 11:34 30 Sep 2020
Hard Labour replied:
I love John McGinn. He is a fine player with a heart as big as lion. But I am sure he would be the first to admit he is inferior to Grealish in every aspect of the game apart from possibly tackling. And Grealish is far more consistent. Jack very occasionally has quiet game but never a bad game. UTV
Comment posted by roksteadyeddy, at 10:46 30 Sep 2020
He has great potential and needs game time to improve his consistency. Great move for him and Villa.
Reply posted by Y0U, at 11:34 30 Sep 2020
Y0U replied:
He's 26 and first played in the premiership 9 seasons ago. Presumably when he's over 30 he'll still have 'potential'
Comment posted by Bash, at 10:48 30 Sep 2020
Good one by Aston Villa. Ross will add more creativity to the midfield. I am sure Jack will be happy to have him in midfield.
Reply posted by andy, at 10:54 30 Sep 2020
andy replied:
perhaps they can double up in the diving as Tom Daley is getting a bit past it
Comment posted by Coolverine, at 10:52 30 Sep 2020
Be a good addition if he stays off the sauce!
Comment posted by James1927, at 10:47 30 Sep 2020
Very good move for Villa, him and Grealish will give them a good footing this season.
Comment posted by danielmanu96, at 10:40 30 Sep 2020
Great signing for Villa

Takes some pressure off Grealish, too

UTV
Comment posted by lillew , at 10:50 30 Sep 2020
Fair play Villa that's a top signing, Barkley needs games to get back to his best but didn't see that coming and fair play to Barkley he has done this to get back in the England squad.

It shows he cares and wants to represent his country
Comment posted by Kev, at 10:56 30 Sep 2020
Shockingly bad decision. Barkley is a good little player. We should have loaned Loftus Cheek out to Villa and kept Barkley at the Bridge.
Reply posted by Petty Evening Moderators, at 11:00 30 Sep 2020
Petty Evening Moderators replied:
Why would anyone want Loftus-Cheek ?
Comment posted by FiddlersElbow, at 10:44 30 Sep 2020
It is a good move for him, not sure he will ever fulfil the potential of his early years. He just seems to lack 100% concentration/awareness of what is going on around him an dis prone to the give away pass - who knows why! Good luck to him as has never acted like an overpaid player. It will enable Chelsea to play the youngsters a bit more.