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Gareth Barry Signs For Manchester City
The Villa captain has swapped Birmingham for Eastlands.
Jun 2, 2009 1:21:21 PM

Manchester City have signed Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry in a £12m deal.

The 28-year-old is Manchester City's first summer signing, and has penned a five-year deal at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Barry had been expected by some to sign for Liverpool this summer, but has opted for Eastlands despite the Citizens' failure to attain European football for 2009-10.

The England international is expected to line up alongside Steven Ireland in City's midfield, having already become acquainted with the club today during his medical.

City spent more than any other Premier League club last season, and have begun this summer in similar fashion, making a "clear signal of intent" heading into the transfer window.

Barry is a member of Fabio Capello's England squad to meet Kazakhstan this weekend.

Ewan Macdonald, Goal.com

What? That was fast! Barry really is stupid though.

$$$$$$

I'm guessing mancity has given him wages villa can't afford.

Very disappointed with him.

He's nearly 29 years old and he threw a strop last year stating he wanted Champions League football, hence wanting to move to Liverpool. We offered him a new deal rumoured to be around £85k a week and obviously he rejected. Had he gone to Liverpool or another big 4 team, I wouldn't have cared, but he's going to lose alot of respect for this. Chances are he will never play CL football in his career now.

Going to City was obviously an economical decision.

I hate it when players follow the highest bidder, but he is 29 and approaching the end of his career. He is primarily thinking of his and his family's best interest. But he gave a lot to Villa, right ? Like 10 years ?

Gareth Barry has issued a public 'thank you' to Villa following his transfer to Manchester City. He explained his decision to move on in an open letter in today's edition of the Birmingham Mail.

After all the speculation over the last twelve months, I want the chance to explain my decision to the Aston Villa fans.

Firstly I want to thank them for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years.

This football club has been a huge part of my life. I joined as a 16-year-old boy and 12 years later I am moving on as a 28-year-old man with a wife and two children.

A lot of things have changed in that time, players, management and a chairman but every season bar none, whether we have been bottom half, mid table or challenging for Europe the support myself and the team have received has been fantastic.

My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not brought the fans the success they deserve and I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies.

I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here. I think we have a group of very good young players, a fantastic chairman who is here for the good of the club and one of the best managers in the game.

Obviously people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that. I have honestly been very undecided what to do. The manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer which I am extremely grateful for, but after changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company.

I need a new challenge. I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone. I believe the deal is a good one for the club. I am sure the manager will use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will go from strength to strength.

I am also excited now about my new challenge. A lot of people will question my decision to join Man City. They were the club prepared to meet the valuation, which for a 28-year-old with a year left on his contract I think shows how much they wanted me, and once I had spoken to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go.

I was also desperate to avoid any long, drawn out saga. I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well. I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a huge cloud.

This year I feel things are different. I haven't used an agent, I have discussed things with my best friend but ultimately made my own choices and I think the situation has been handled properly by everybody involved and once again I have to thank the manager and the club for that.

I genuinely wish the club all the best for the future, and want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me in my time here. For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for.

Thanks for everything.

Gareth

That was decent of him I suppose.

Looking at it, I think he made the right decision. He now earns £110k a week and will probably folow in the footsteps of other recent big names that've left the club - Yorke and Southgate - and go on to win trophies. Still disappointed that he left, but oh well, the club is bigger than him, we still have a great, young squad. Just please bring in a Moutinho or a Veloso to replace him.