According to sources who spoke with Football Insider, Ross Barkley has agreed to a two-year deal with Aston Villa that includes a one-year extension option. Given that Barkley had a one-year contract with a 12-month option to extend with Luton Town, there is supposedly no transfer fee associated with the transaction. He had a contract that said he could leave for free if the team was demoted, and that condition has now come into effect as a result of the Hatters’ inability to stay in the Premier League. Barkley’s services have been secured by Aston Villa due to this circumstance.
Before the announcement on May 25 that a “full agreement” was in place to bring Ross Barkley to Villa Park, Football Insider exclusively broke the news on May 18 that Aston Villa had initiated talks with him. Despite interest from several elite Premier League teams, notably Newcastle United, the 30-year-old is now expected to join Unai Emery’s squad this summer. Barkley’s career has seen a significant upturn over the past year, following a series of strong performances since joining Luton Town on a free transfer from Nice last summer.
In 32 Premier League games this season, the former Villa loanee scored five goals and provided four assists while playing a deeper role for Rob Edwards’ team. Barkley is excited to play in the Champions League the next season, and Aston Villa has an advantage over other interested teams because of their fourth-place performance. This month, Football Insider disclosed that Unai Emery had three priority targets targeted for the upcoming transfer window, including a box-to-box midfielder. The West Midlands team is rumored to be working on a second senior signing in the upcoming weeks in an effort to wrap up their Villa Park transfer business as soon as possible.
