Aston Villa have signed Barcelona youngster Louie Barry on a permanent deal. The 16-year-old striker returns to English youth football after a difficult spell in Spain. He arrives for a fee believed to be £880,000.
Aston Villa Sign Teenager Louie Barry From Barcelona
Back in England
Aston Villa announced via their website they had signed the talented teenager. Barry joins on a permanent deal and will go straight into Villa’s academy.
Barry returns to England after a difficult year in Spain with Barcelona. Delays in receiving international clearance and lack of game time highlighted his need to leave Spain. He scored just two goals in ten games for the Barcelona youth team.
Barry joins the club he supported as a boy having started his career at Villa’s Midland rivals, West Bromwich Albion. West Brom are unhappy with the deal and have reported Barcelona to FIFA. They believe they are owed a fee for Barry’s transfer.
He has already played for the Villa U23s, scoring on his debut in a 2-1 victory against Cardiff City.
The 16-year-old has already impressed Villa manager Dean Smith and his assistant, John Terry, as Villa look to produce more first-team players from their academy.
What Was Said
Speaking to the Villa website about Louie Barry, Villa academy manager Mark Harrison said: “It (Louie’s signing) sends a powerful message about the ambition of this football club.
“We’re delighted – Louie is a local person and his family are all Villa fans, as is Louie.
“He is still a very young man but as he’s developed, he’s always been one player that you always recognise as having outstanding attributes. He’s got a fantastic mentality, he’s desperate to do well for this football club.
“He’s really driven, he’s got great family support, but in terms of what he can achieve, we firmly believe that he can be an outstanding number nine for this football club.
“It’s a significant thing that we’ve done. We have to get the programmes right and the pathways right for these players.
“We’ve laid down the foundations now.
“What it does show (the Academy players representing the first team) is that with the right attitude and application, what can be achieved in a short space of time.”
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