After being on loan to Everton from Manchester City last year, Gareth Barry will officially move to Goodson Park in a three year deal according to the club’s official website. The midfielder was a big part of the Toffees fifth place finish in the Premier League last season, which led to the team’s qualification into next year’s Europa League.
“I’m delighted now that everything is signed and I’m going to be spending the next few years at Everton,” Barry said. His contract with Manchester City expired in June and his signing is the first of the summer for Everton manager, Roberto Martinez. “We all know the type of footballer that he is and the type of person that he is and he will fit perfectly well into what we are at Everton,” Martinez said after signing Barry’s contract.
Barry began his career at Aston Villa where he scored 41 goals in 365 appearances in 11 seasons, and became the youngest person to appear in 300 Premier League games at the age of 26. He then transferred to Manchester City for five years and an original transfer fee of £12million, netting five goals in 132 appearances. He played a critical role in winning the 2011 FA Cup and 2012 Premier League title for the Citizens. While with Everton last he became the 10th player to make 500 Premier League appearances.
First making an appearance for the England National team at the U-16 and U-18 level, Barry joined the senior team at the age of 19 after making 27 appearances for the Three Lions U-21 squad which was a record at the time. He traveled with the senior team to the Euro 2000 tournament but did not see time in any of England’s three games. He was out of the England team for many years but was recalled by Fabio Capello in 2008. He scored his first international goal against Trinidad and Tobago in 2008 and traveled with England to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He also has the distinction of scoring England’s 2,000th all-time goal in a friendly against Sweden in November of 2011.
Barry will be able to continue playing with James McCarthy with whom he works well with from central. midfield. Last season, Barry completed more passes than any Everton player and will likely be the first of many signings this summer at Goodison Park in order to help with the increased demands of the Europa League.
