Trifecta help lure Ross Barkley to Aston Villa in season-long loan deal

The 26-year-old yesterday became the club’s fifth signing of the transfer window after agreeing to join from Chelsea.

Villa were also weighing up a loan move for Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek – but Barkley was always boss Smith’s preferred option.

The club moved quickly when it became clear he would be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge and have agreed to pay his £110,000-a-week wages in full.

Barkley has been capped 33 times by England but believes getting regular first-team football at Villa can help him force his way firmly into Gareth Southgate’s plans.

“The Euros was a big influence for me coming here because for the last couple years it has been stop-start for me [at Chelsea], performing and then being out of the team,” he said. “To come here and have the chance to play and perform regularly was a big thing for me and with the Euros at the end of the season it’s a target of mine to be in the squad and hopefully be there.

“Villa know my strengths and what I can add to the team. Dean Smith swayed me with the way he spoke to me.

“It’s a massive club and it looks like it’s going to be an exciting season. Hopefully we can improve this season compared to last season.”

Barkley is ineligible for tonight’s Carabao Cup fourth round clash with Stoke but could make his debut in Sunday’s Premier League showdown with champions Liverpool.

The presence of John Terry on the Villa coaching staff is thought to have been a factor in convincing him to choose Villa over other options, as was the influence of Jack Grealish. “Me and Jack are mates off the field. We know each other well,” said Barkley.

“We have spoken previously and I am looking forward to playing with him.

“I’ve spoken to him over the past couple of weeks and he’s been telling me about how good the club is and how welcomed I’d be when I came here.”

Smith would still like to add another attacking player before Monday’s transfer deadline but that may depend on how successfully Villa are able to move players out.

Frederic Guilbert, Bjorn Engels, Jota and Henri Lansbury are among those the club are looking to move on.

Villa are also poised to add another player to their academy ranks with the signing of highly-rated Dundee United defender Kerr Smith.

The 16-year-old has previously been linked with Arsenal and Manchester United.