Chelsea have confirmed Ross Barkley’s exit from the club after mutually agreeing to terminate his contract.
Chelsea confirmed Ross Barkley’s departure through an official statement. The midfielder was not wanted at the club, as the Blues have mutually agreed to terminate his contract. With days left in the transfer window, the player could move to another club on a free transfer.
Ross Barkley will not look back fondly on his time at Chelsea, after a disastrous spell at Stamford Bridge, which was supposed to elevate his career. Rather than going to the next level, the former Everton star’s career stagnated, as he lost relevance on many fronts, including the England setup.
Since joining from Everton in January 2018 for a reported fee of £15 million, Barkley has gone on to make precisely 100 senior appearances. He joined Aston Villa on loan for the season, although the club decided against signing him permanently.
Last season, Thomas Tuchel only thought he was good enough for a few cameo appearances and a rare start, as Barkley played only 175 minutes in the Premier League. The club considered terminating his contract early but had not decided yet.
Ross Barkley has left Chelsea by mutual consent.
Wishing you well for the future, Ross! ?
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 29, 2022
However, with days left in the transfer window, Chelsea and Barkley have mutually decided to terminate what’s left on his current deal. However, despite the limited time left in the market, teams could still sign ‘free agents’ beyond the deadline.
A few clubs are keen on Barkley, with most interest coming from the Premier League. However, those teams may put such a transfer on the back burner for now because free agents could be signed beyond the deadline, meaning there may not be a rush for someone to sign the midfielder.
There’s also reported interest from Celtic, although with growing interest from English clubs, the midfielder might choose to remain in the country. There’s no information about any admiration from other leagues. The 28-year-old has plenty of time left in his career to revive it and make a good case from here on.
Aston Villa are also considering re-signing him, considering they might make do with someone who knows the club from before. However, Barkley could be expected to have a fair amount of offers on the table in the next few days, as the 28-year-old’s next destination could well be within England.
