Ross Barkley: Chelsea Announce First January Signing
Reuters / Craig Brough
Chelsea have confirmed the signing of Ross Barkley from Everton in a deal worth a fee of £15 million.
In an official statement released on the club’s official website, the Blues said:
‘Chelsea Football Club has today completed the signing of Ross Barkley from Everton. The 24-year-old has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract and will wear the number 8 shirt.’
Upon signing for the Premier League champions, Barkley said: ‘I’m overwhelmed, I’m looking forward to it and I’m really excited to get started.
‘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.’
Club 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.’
Barkley had been desperate to leave Everton for a bigger club over the past two seasons but no concrete interest was ever received for the midfielder. The Toffees had consistently been quoting high figures for the Englishman, which makes it all the more surprising that they have now allowed him to leave for just £15 million.
Taking over a jersey that has been vacant since Frank Lampard brought an end to his legendary career at Stamford Bridge, Barkley will be thrown straight into the mix of things. He has been out of action since August with a supposed hamstring injury, hence he has not represented Everton in any competition and will be free to compete with Chelsea on all four fronts.
Having once been compared to the likes of Wayne Rooney and Paul Gascoigne, Barkley is no longer ‘boy wonder’ and at 24 years of age, has to prove that he can cut it at the highest level.
Manchester United fan, Wayne Rooney is his role model. Passionate writer who has written for several sites in the past. He’s also an aspiring pianist and creates background music for BlameFootball’s Youtube channel.