Ex-Chelsea star signs for French side

Ross Barkley has signed for French side Nice just days after leaving Chelsea. 

The ex-England international left The Blues on Monday by mutual consent, but didn’t have to wait long for his next venture with Nice snapping up the midfielder on a free transfer.

The former Everton man signed for Nice on Sunday, Fabrizio Romano explained, and was presented to the club’s supporters ahead of their game against Monaco on Sunday evening.

Barkley, 28, joined Chelsea from Everton in January 2018, but after a relatively successful first 12 months at Stamford Bridge, the Englishman’s career dwindled.

The midfielder’s playing time at Stamford Bridge decreased quite considerably and, in 2020, he was loaned to fellow Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

Barkley struggled to establish himself as a regular for the majority of his Chelsea career

His time in the midlands started brightly as he netted in each of his first two league games for the Villans, but by the end of the season he found himself very much a squad player rather than a regular starter.

Last term, after returning to his parent club, Barkley made 14 appearances across all competitions, starting just one Premier League match.

He did, however, score The Blues’ final goal of the 2021/22 campaign, netting the winner in a 2-1 victory over Watford at Stamford Bridge.

In total, Barkley made exactly 100 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 12 goals and providing 11 assists, including memorable strikes against Liverpool in the FA Cup in 2020, and against Manchester United during the 2018/19 campaign.

Barkley will play alongside former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey in France, with the Welshman having joined Nice shortly after leaving Juventus last month.