Aston Villa manager, Dean Smith as said signing Chelsea midfielder, Ross Barkley on loan is a real coup for the club.
This further showed from the tweet of the club, as many seemed surprised about the move as well as the midfielder joins the Birmingham based club on a season-long loan.
Barkley becomes Villa’s fifth summer signing, following the arrivals of Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins, Matt Cash, and Emiliano Martinez.
Surprise. 🤪
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 30, 2020
Let's go, @RBarkley8! 👌
🟣 #WelcomeRoss 🟣 pic.twitter.com/Oalvz8Lj4A
🟣 #WelcomeRoss 🟣@RBarkley8 arrives at Villa Park on a season-long loan! 👊
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 30, 2020
“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,” Villa boss Dean Smith said.
Barkley has been playing a bit-part role at Chelsea. With the arrival of Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz from Ajax and Bayern Leverkusen respectively, his playing time becomes more restricted at Stamford Bridge. In order to at least give things a shot ahead of the Euros, the former Everton midfielder moved to Villa.
Barkley, who has been further pushed him down the pecking order under Frank Lampard last played for Chelsea this season in the 6-0 Carabao Cup victory over Championship side Barnsley. He was an unused substitute as the Blues were defeated by Tottenham 5-4 on penalties in the fourth round on Tuesday.
Barkley to make big impact at Aston Villa?
Excited to have joined the club, Barkley is hoping to produce the performances that will make him a hit for club and country.
“The last couple of years I’ve been stop-start, performing well, and then being out of the team.
“To come here and have the chance to play and perform regularly is a big thing for me. With the Euros at the end of the season, it’s a big target for me and hopefully I can be there.
“Dean Smith swayed me with the way he spoke to me, and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting season.”
The 26-year-old also revealed that his new teammates, Jack Grealish, whom he has a long-standing friendship with had a role in persuading him that Villa Park was the right place for him.
“We’re mates off the field and we know each other well. We’ve spoken previously and I’m looking forward to playing with him.
“I’ve spoken to him over the past couple of weeks and he’s been telling me about how good the club is and how welcomed I’d be when I came here.”
