Ross Barkley was once considered one of the brightest prospects in English football when he made his senior breakthrough more than a decade ago. Now, the 28-year-old is searching for a new club following a miserable four-and-a-half year spell at Chelsea.
The Blues confirmed on Monday that Barkley was a free agent, having agreed to a mutual termination of his contract. The attacking midfielder netted 12 times in 100 appearances for the Blues, but never consistently nailed down a starting spot following his £15 million move from boyhood club Everton.
Thomas Tuchel praised the England international's conduct during prolonged spells on the sidelines in the capital, but was never seemingly convinced enough to use him as anything more than a squad option. Competition for places in Chelsea's engine room against the likes of N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic was never anything less than fierce.
