Ross Barkley
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Ross Barkley | |
| |
| Full Name | Ross Barkley |
| Date of Birth | 5 December 1993 |
| Place of Birth | Liverpool, England |
| Position | Attacking midfielder |
| Chelsea career | 2018 – 2022 |
| Debut | 24 January 2018 |
| Games (goals) | 100 (12) |
| Other clubs | Everton Sheffield Wednesday (loan) Leeds United (loan) |
Ross Barkley is an English midfielder who joined Chelsea from Everton in January 2018. He left the club after the end of the 2021-22 season to join French side OGC Nice.
Contents |
Before Chelsea
Ross Barkley began his professional career at Everton, having joined their academy at the age of 11. He made his senior debut in 2011 and quickly gained attention for his powerful running, close control, and ability to score from midfield. Between 2011 and 2018, Barkley made 179 appearances for Everton and scored 27 goals. He had brief loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United in 2012–13, where he gained valuable first-team experience. Barkley became a fan favourite at Goodison Park and was regarded as one of the most promising English midfielders of his generation. In January 2018, he signed for Chelsea in a deal worth around £15 million after recovering from a long-term hamstring injury.
Chelsea career
2017–18 Season
Barkley joined Chelsea midway through the season in January 2018. Still recovering from injury, he found it difficult to build rhythm or secure a regular place in the team. He made just 4 appearances in all competitions and did not feature in any significant matches. Although his impact was minimal, the second half of the season was seen as an opportunity to adapt to his new surroundings and regain fitness after a long layoff.
2018–19 Season
Barkley had his breakthrough season at Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri. He played 27 Premier League matches, scored 3 goals, and made 48 appearances in total, adding 5 goals and several assists across competitions. He was particularly effective in the UEFA Europa League, where he scored in key matches, including a memorable free-kick against Malmö. He started in the Europa League final against Arsenal in Baku, contributing to Chelsea's emphatic 4–1 victory. Barkley’s physicality, ability to carry the ball forward, and improved tactical awareness earned him regular minutes in central midfield.
2019–20 Season
Under new manager Frank Lampard, Barkley had a mixed season. He made 21 league appearances, often rotating with Mason Mount and Mateo Kovačić. In total, he featured 31 times, scoring 5 goals, including a vital winner in an FA Cup tie against Leicester City. He also started in the FA Cup final against Arsenal, which Chelsea lost 2–1. While his performances were occasionally inconsistent, he was a useful squad option and contributed in important moments during Chelsea’s top-four finish and cup runs.
2020–21 Season
After having problems with playing regularly at the beginning of the season (threee appearances, one goal in the League Cup), Barkley was loaned to Aston Villa for the season in search of more regular playing time. He started brightly, scoring on his debut against Leicester City and forming a strong partnership with Jack Grealish. He made 24 Premier League appearances, scored 3 goals, and added several assists. However, after a strong start, his form dipped and he struggled with injuries and inconsistency in the second half of the campaign.
2021–22 Season
Returning to Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, Barkley struggled to secure regular playing time. He made only 6 Premier League appearances and played 14 matches across all competitions, mostly as a substitute or in early-round domestic cup ties. His sole goal of the season came on the final day of the league campaign. Despite being a peripheral figure, he remained a respected presence in the dressing room.
Barkley’s contract with Chelsea was mutually terminated in August 2022, ending a four-and-a-half-year spell at the club.
Statistics
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2017-18 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 21 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 31 | 5 |
| 2020-21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Total | 58 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 100 | 12 |
- Correct as of the end of the 2021-22 season
Goals
| # | Season | Date | Year | Competition | Opponent | Score | Result | Venue |
| 1 | 2018-19 | 07 October | 2018 | Premier League | Southampton | 2-0 | 3-0 | St Mary's Stadium |
| 2 | 2018-19 | 20 October | 2018 | Premier League | Manchester United | 2-2 | 2-2 | Stamford Bridge |
| 3 | 2018-19 | 28 October | 2018 | Premier League | Burnley | 2-0 | 4-0 | Turf Moor |
| 4 | 2018-19 | 14 February | 2019 | UEFA Europa League | Malmö FF | 1-0 | 2-1 | Malmö New Stadion |
| 5 | 2018-19 | 21 February | 2019 | UEFA Europa League | Malmö FF | 2-0 | 3-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 6 | 2019-20 | 25 September | 2019 | League Cup | Grimsby Town | 1-0 | 7-1 | Stamford Bridge |
| 7 | 2019-20 | 05 January | 2020 | FA Cup | Nottingham Forest | 2-0 | 2-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 8 | 2019-20 | 03 March | 2020 | FA Cup | Liverpool | 2-0 | 2-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 9 | 2019-20 | 28 June | 2020 | FA Cup | Leicester City | 1-0 | 1-0 | King Power Stadium |
| 10 | 2019-20 | 04 July | 2020 | Premier League | Watford | 3-0 | 3-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 11 | 2020-21 | 23 September | 2020 | League Cup | Barnsley | 3-0 | 6-0 | Stamford Bridge |
| 12 | 2021-22 | 22 May | 2022 | Premier League | Watford | 2-1 | 2-1 | Stamford Bridge |
International
Barkley made his senior debut for the England national team in 2013. He was part of the squads for both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2016. Known for his attacking flair and ball-carrying ability, he was often used as an impact substitute in international tournaments. After falling out of favour due to injuries and limited club minutes, his England appearances ceased after 2019. However, his early international career showed great promise, and he remains one of the few players to represent England at every youth level and at two senior tournaments.
Honours
- FA Cup: 2017-18
- UEFA Europa League: 2018-19
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2021
