Why Aston Villa signing this 26-year-old English star is a smart move by Dean Smith

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Sourav Ghosh

Why Ross Barkley is a smart signing for Aston Villa

Aston Villa completed the signing of Ross Barkley on loan from Chelsea during the transfer window. Villa manager Dean Smith was particularly happy after the signing and was expecting Barkley to improve the squad. And sure he did, combining very well with his teammates in Villa’s 7-2 routing of defending champions Liverpool.

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The 26-year-old English midfielder started his youth career at Everton in 2005 and progressed through the ranks before being promoted to the senior team in 2011.

Featuring only 9 times that season, he was sent on loan to Sheffield Wednesday for the following season but was recalled early to play for Everton. Another short loan spell followed that season, this time to Leeds United.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 30: Ross Barkley of Everton gets past N’Golo Kante of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Everton and Chelsea at Goodison Park on April 30, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

It was only from 2013-14 that Barkley was used on a more frequent basis. In total, he played 179 games for the Toffees, while scoring 27 goals and assisting 28 (source – Transfermarkt).

In 2018, Chelsea signed him. He has not had the same impact at Chelsea, which is somewhat understandable but he has been quite underused in his spell there. Playing 86 games, he scored and assisted 11 goals each before being loaned out to Aston Villa for this season.

Barkley progressed through the England youth teams before making it to the senior team. So far, he has made 33 appearances for the side scoring 6 goals.

Why Barkley is a smart signing for Villa

Signing Barkley was the right move for the club to add some quality and freshness. He adds to the numbers in midfield, with only three central midfielders in the squad prior to his arrival. Connor Hourihane, John McGinn and Henri Lansbury were Dean Smith’s only options in central midfield.

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Chelsea’s English midfielder Ross Barkley celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Chelsea and Barnsley at Stamford Bridge in London on September 23, 2020. (Photo by ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP via Getty Images)

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Given Barkley is an attacking midfielder, he should help the likes of Jack Grealish, who won’t have to take on the full brunt of the team’s creativity. The former Everton man also has a knack for popping up with the odd goals, which would no doubt be an added bonus, just like it was against Liverpool when he got on the scoresheet.

Since this is a loan deal, Villa have nothing to lose and this looks like a win-win deal for all parties involved.