Luton Town have secured the services of Ross Barkley, the ex-Everton, Chelsea, and England midfielder, on a cost-free transfer. Barkley, who previously played for Nice in Ligue 1 after parting ways with Chelsea, was released by the French club earlier this summer.
The 29-year-old expressed his excitement about joining Luton and highlighted the remarkable journey from the Conference to the Premier League. Being back in the Premier League serves as a major source of motivation for him. Despite not getting as much playing time over the past few years, he considers himself relatively young.
"But I've reserved a lot of energy and looked after myself, so it's great to be here now as I've got a lot to show but I'm ready and feeling motivated."
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Barkley, who represented England in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and had a loan stint at Aston Villa, may potentially make his first appearance for the Hatters in their Premier League season opener against Brighton on Saturday. Prior to joining Chelsea in 2018 in a £15m five-and-a-half-year contract, Barkley started his career at Everton where he amassed 150 Premier League appearances and scored 21 goals. However, he faced difficulties in establishing himself at Stamford Bridge.
Luton manager Rob Edwards is optimistic about the addition of Ross Barkley to his team. The English midfielder, who has been capped 33 times for his country, is expected to bring a unique dynamic to the squad as they prepare for their first season in the top-flight since 1992, following their victory in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final. According to Edwards, Barkley's extensive experience and international background will provide a valuable "X-factor" to the team.
"He offers us a refreshing perspective, possessing the unique talent to transform nothing into something, a trait highly sought after in the Premier League. He possesses all the necessary skills to bring about a significant impact for our team.
"This is truly a thrilling development for our football club. We wholeheartedly desire the fans to share in this excitement, as Ross' arrival is surely cause for jubilation."
Luton Town: Premier League 2023/24 fixtures
Luton Town's homecoming to the Premier League will kick off with a clash against Brighton at the Amex Stadium on the first Saturday of the 2023/24 season.
After their triumphant victory over Coventry City in the Championship playoff final, the newly promoted team will face Chelsea on August 26. November promises consecutive showdowns against Liverpool (at home) on the 4th and Manchester United (away) on the 11th.
In December, Kenilworth Road will welcome Arsenal and Manchester City, with the month concluding with a visit from Chelsea. In February, Rob Edwards' team will host Manchester United and travel to face Liverpool at Anfield, followed by visits to the Emirates and the Etihad in April.
Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
What will happen next for The Hatters after their campaign ends on May 19, when Fulham visit Kenilworth Road?Who will be making moves this summer as the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on We' digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on We News.