Sheffield United have signed Louie Barry from Aston Villa on loan.
The deal does not include an option to buy the English forward, who spent a year in Barcelona’s La Masia academy as a teenager.
The Athletic reported last week that the Championship club were in advanced talks to sign Barry, having been the most likely option for the player since a proposed agreement to join Hull City at the start of July collapsed after concerns were raised over the affordability of the deal.
Hull struggled to meet the £3.5million financial package agreed with Villa, which included a 50 per cent sell-on clause as well as covering Barry’s salary. Shortly after, a three-window transfer embargo was placed on Hull.
Sheffield United, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season following a play-off final defeat to Sunderland, have been in discussions with Villa and the 22-year-old in recent weeks.
While a deal was always expected to be finalised this week, Barry had featured in Villa’s first two pre season friendlies.
The forward will reunite with head coach Ruben Selles, who worked with Barry on loan at Hull last season, though he only made four appearances due to a knee injury in February that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Selles is a keen advocate of Barry, as the club aim to regain promotion to the top-flight.
Barry had joined Hull in January after he scored 15 goals in 23 League One appearances at Stockport County in the first half of the campaign.
Barry came through West Bromwich Albion’s academy and has had spells at Barcelona, Ipswich Town, Swindon Town, MK Dons and Salford City. He has made one senior appearance for Villa, scoring on his debut against Liverpool in a 4-1 FA Cup defeat in 2021.
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