We are excited to announce the signing of talented young forward, Louie Barry on a season-long loan from Premier League Aston Villa.
The 20-year-old was one of the club’s top targets this summer, with County having fought off interest from numerous other sides to secure his services. Highly rated at Villa Park, Louie signed a new contract with the Premier League side before making the move to Edgeley Park.
The England U18s international spent ten years in West Brom’s academy as a youngster, before making headlines shortly after his 16th birthday by signing a three-year deal with Catalan giants Barcelona – becoming the first ever English player to represent the club’s famous La Masia academy.
He won the Spanish U19s league during his time in Spain, but soon received an offer to join boyhood club Aston Villa – moving to Villa Park in 2020, still at the age of just 16, for an initial fee of £880,000.
Whilst continuing to make a name for himself in the club’s U23s side, a covid outbreak in the Aston Villa squad in January 2021 saw Louie, 17, handed his first-team debut, starting an FA Cup tie against Liverpool.
The youngster again stole the headlines by scoring a well-taken equaliser just before the break for a very young Villa side, in a game they would eventually go on to lose 4-1. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was full of praise for the forward after the match, describing him as ‘the little Jamie Vardy’.
After signing a new deal that Summer, Barry’s next move was to head out on loan for his first real taste of senior men’s football. Spells with Ipswich Town and Swindon Town followed during the 2021/22 campaign, scoring six goals in just 14 league appearances during his time at the County Ground, before missing out on promotion to League One in the play-offs.
Last season saw him spend time at MK Dons before finishing the season at Salford City, helping the Ammies to a club-record finish of 7th in League Two before missing out again in the play-offs, losing on penalties at Edgeley Park. Louie was the only Salford player to convert his spot-kick that afternoon.
We are delighted to have been chosen by both Louie and Aston Villa to carry his progression forward this season. He becomes our second signing of the week, after Jayden Richardson joined the club on loan from Aberdeen on Wednesday.
Director of Football, Simon Wilson said:
“We are delighted to secure Louie for the upcoming season, and feel he will add attributes we do not have in the group. He is an outstanding one v one player who can scare the life out of defenders. We want to be a team that has different types of tools to win games; this was something we felt we needed, and we believe Louie is one of the best around.”
First-Team Manager, Dave Challinor said:
“We’ve had to be really patient, but that’s been rewarded by Louie now being at the club. He was our top target in his position, and for him and Aston Villa to choose us as his next destination is really pleasing.
“He’ll link up again with Ibby, something they did well at Salford last season and will have a familiar face to help him settle in. Louie is a dribbler, an exciting, pacey forward who has the ability to beat players and will certainly get people of their seats. We are really looking forward to working with him and anticipate him having a real impact within the squad.”
Watch Louie Barry’s first interview as a County player here:
