Ex-Chelsea star signs for newly promoted Premier League side after superb visit to training ground

Ambitious newly promoted Premier League side Luton Town have confirmed the signing of former Chelsea midfielder Ross Barkley just a year after he ended his time in west London.

The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at French side Nice where he played 27 times and bagged four goals, gaining credit for moving abroad at a time when he could have joined a team in the Championship or another Premier League club.

But the England international is now back in the Premier League with newly-promoted Luton having been seen at the club’s training ground, with the Hatters confirming his arrival in a shock announcement on Wednesday.

The move benefits Barkley who gets to play in the Premier League again, while the newly promoted side Luton also get an experienced midfielder who on his day can be as good as anyone in the middle of the park. Barkley is reported to have been impressed after being offered a chance to guide a largely inexperienced side in what is often a challenging first year in the Premier League.

Barkley has earned 33 England caps and played at the 2014 World Cup for the Three Lions. He will wear number 6 at Luton as he looks to add to his 200-plus Premier League appearances.

Barkley will hope to rediscover the form that made him a household name during his time at Everton, and that made Chelsea decide to sign him in the first place.

Chelsea are undergoing a massive rebuild after finishing a disappointing 12th in the Premier League last season. New manager Mauricio Pochettino has replaced Graham Potter and the size of the team has been reduced with about 10 senior players shipped out already this summer.

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