Sheffield United have announced the signing of left winger Louie Barry, who joins the club on loan from Premier League side Aston Villa.
Barry, 22, played his football on loan at Stockport County and Hull City last season, where he was able to score 16 goals. He was also able to assist on two occasions.
Throughout his current spell at Aston Villa, the English youth international has made 125 appearances but these were not in the Aston Villa academy squad for the majority. Instead, he spent the majority of his time out on loan at clubs such as Hull City, Stockport County and Ipswich Town. During his loan spells so far in his career he has contributed 34 goals.
A Crucial Summer Window For Sheffield United
Barry Joins Sheffield United in a crucial summer transfer window with the left winger becoming the fourth signing of the Blades summer transfer window.
The Bramall Lane outfit will be aiming to go a step further in the EFL Championship in the upcoming season after missing out on promotion to the Premier League through the playoffs last season.
At the end of this campaign, the Blades lost attacker Rhian Brewster due to him being out of contract and the striker wanting to pursue an opportunity elsewhere. So, they must recruit a replacement for the attacker and the goals he provided last campaign.
The addition of Barry, who holds experience in most Leagues within the EFL, will add strength, depth and most importantly goals to United’s frontline.
What Qualities Does Louie Barry Bring?
The addition of Louie Barry to Sheffield United adds quality to the side. However, there are some areas where the former Hull City and Stockport man excels.
One of these areas is in possession. During the 2024-25 season, the former Stockport County loanee completed 54 successful dribbles, as well as creating 22 chances with him assisting two times. This shows that the 22-year-old can impress and affect football games positively, even in a struggling Hull City side that just missed out on relegation.
Additionally in possession the attackers crossing statistics were impressive especially in a Stockport County side. He successfully completed 12 crosses and had a 25.5% crossing accuracy. This could be especially useful in a Ruben Selles side as it evolves around creating attacking situations and completing quick transitions.
However, Barry needs to work on his defensive ability. During the 24/25 campaign, he only successfully won nine tackles and had a 50% successful tackle percentage. This could be a problem as recovering the ball back quickly is a factor in Selles gameplay.
A Good Signing?
The signing of Louie Barry has the potential to be excellent. He brings previous experience in the EFL Championship, great skills and knows how to hit the back of the net.
However, with his defensive ability and tackling ability, could he be successful in a Ruben Selles side? Comment your thoughts on this topic below.
