Ross Barkley had joined Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
The Blues were under a transfer ban last year but have made up for it emphatically this summer, spending more than anyone else in Europe on Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Ben Chilwell, Edouard Mendy, and Thiago Silva.
The intake of new recruits has meant that Barkley has fallen down the pecking order under manager Frank Lampard, with him only featuring off the bench in two out of Chelsea's three matches in the Premier League so far.
Deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea, Villa have swooped to sign him on loan, much to the delight of Dean Smith.
🟣 #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," the Villa boss told the official club website.
Villa have enjoyed a perfect start to their Premier League season so far, winning two out of two matches versus Sheffield United and Fulham.
They have once again been one of the Premier League's biggest spenders, as in addition to Barkley on loan they have previously recruited Ollie Watkins from Brentford, Bertrand Traore from Lyon, Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal, and Matty Cash from Nottingam Forest.
Ross Barkley 
Chelsea 
Aston Villa 
