Hughes joy as City seal shock £12m Barry move

MANCHESTER CITY have completed a surprise £12 million transfer swoop for Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry.

The 28-year-old England midfielder signed a five-year contract at Eastlands last night having completed a medical earlier yesterday.

Barry, a target for Liverpool last summer, leaves Villa after 12 years and more than 400 matches. The midfielder publicly stated he wanted to play in the Champions League and manager Martin O’Neill knew it would be difficult to keep the player if one of the top four came calling.

However, Barry’s decision to join the revolution – bankrolled by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan – undertaken by Mark Hughes at Eastlands will come as a shock to O’Neill and Villa fans alike.

Barry said: “I’m delighted to be joining City. It didn’t take much persuasion from Mark Hughes, they are heading in the direction I want to go.

“There is great potential here, and I’m sure there will be a few more additions to the squad this summer.”

Hughes told the club’s website: “When players of his quality become available, you have to be in the market for them, so we are delighted that we have been able to conclude this deal.

“I like players that have the sort of flexibility that enables you to change your tactics if you need during a game, and Gareth has that.

“He also has a range of passing that I’m keen to introduce to the team, and he has got great delivery at sets plays as well. He will bring a lot to City.”

City have not even qualified for next season’s revamped Europa League and some supporters are certain to believe Barry has moved because of the £80,000-a-week salary at Eastlands.

But Barry has received assurances regarding the quality of player Mark Hughes is looking to bring in to help establish City as a major force.

And he is likely to be assured of regular first-team football at Eastlands – crucial in the build-up to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

O’Neill refused to budge from his £18m valuation of the player when Liverpool pursued Barry last year.

Even though they are £6million down on the deal from a year ago the transfer still makes sense for Villa as Barry, who is currently with the England squad preparing for a World Cup qualifier in Kazakhstan on Saturday, could leave for nothing at the end of next season.