After missing out on him in the summer Chelsea have secured Everton midfielder Ross Barkley for a cut price of £15m plus add ons. Barkley has signed a long term contract that will see him stay at Stamford Bridge for five and half seasons and will be given jersey number eight–a jersey number once held by Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
Barkley, a graduate of Everton’s famed youth system, having refused to extend his contract at Goodison Park was entering the final six months of his deal with the Toffees forcing the club to sell.
A deadline transfer for the midfielder had been struck by both clubs in the summer which would have seen Barkley join Chelsea for £30m. However a last minute change of heart by the player, after allegedly undergoing a medical ensured the deal did not go through. An embarrassing outcome for Chelsea who had already suffered the infamy of missing out on several top targets. After six months though, the Evertonian has finally arrived West London.
“I’m overwhelmed, I’m looking forward to it and I’m really excited to get started,” said Barkley, who has won 22 England caps.
“To be given a fresh start at a new club like Chelsea, it’s unbelievable for me.
“I’m looking forward to continuing where I left off at the end of last season and hoping to improve and add more goals to my game.”
Conte has been vocal in his appeal for more players to join a Chelsea first team undoubtedly high on quality but very low in terms of numerical strength and the Italian seemed quite happy with the transfer. The former Juventus manager speaking ahead of Chelsea’s FA Cup third-round tie at Norwich on Saturday, and prior to the deal being confirmed, said: “We are talking about an English player, a young player. He has good prospects for Chelsea. I think the club decided for this investment also for his contract.
“I think this is a good opportunity for the club to buy this player.
“For sure he is a good prospect for Chelsea.”
Ironically Barkley’s last game for the Toffees had come in a defeat to Arsenal in May. Having once been touted as the next big thing to have popped out of Goodison Park after wayne Rooney, Barkley despite making 150 Premier League appearances for the club and scoring 21 goals, leaves largely unfulfilled. Chelsea, having finally landed a player they’ve covetted for a long time and for considerably less than the price, will be hoping that Antonio Conte works his magic on a player who is ludicrously talented but is prone to lapses of indiscipline.
Barkley will not ready for action immediately as his first task will be to get back from a hamstring injury that has kept him out for the first half of the season but he is reported to be nearing match fitness.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia added: ‘Ross is a player we have long admired and are certain he will prove to be an important player for Chelsea.
“He possesses outstanding technical and physical attributes, matched with good experience of the Premier League and a strong desire to succeed at the highest level.
“We welcome him to the club and look forward to seeing him in action.”