Ross Barkley is expected to join a Premier League team following Luton’s relegation.
Aston Villa are reportedly close to signing Ross Barkley from Luton Town after their relegation from the Premier League on Sunday.
Barkley had been linked with a move to Manchester United, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe viewing him as a potential replacement for Casemiro.
However, Villa are aiming to bolster their squad for the upcoming Champions League campaign after finishing fourth in the Premier League.
Barkley, who excelled for Luton in the 2023-24 season after joining as a free agent last summer, appears set to join Villa. According to The Guardian, a deal is near completion, with Barkley having expressed his desire to play in the Premier League last month.
“I want to play in the Premier League,” the 30-year-old midfielder said. “I want to play in Europe again… I feel like for the next three years maybe I’ll still be in my prime years.”
This move represents a significant career revival for Barkley, who had struggled at Chelsea before moving to the French top-flight.
After joining Chelsea from Everton in 2018, Barkley had a challenging time and was eventually sold to Nice in 2022. He spent just one season in Ligue 1 before being signed by Luton following their promotion from the Championship.
With Luton set to compete in the second tier for the 2024-25 season, Barkley is moving on again and is now expected to rejoin Unai Emery’s Villa, where he previously played on loan.