After contract termination at Chelsea: Ross Barkley signs with OGC Nice

Was second most valuable without a club

A week after his contract with Chelsea FC ended, Ross Barkley found a new employer. The 28-year-old will appear in Ligue 1 for OGC Nice in the future, as the club from the Côte d’Azur announced. With a market value of €12m, Barkley, who was unveiled ahead of the AS Monaco (0-1) game, was previously the second most valuable freelance player on the market.

The 33-time England international, who is now leaving his home country for a change, came to London from Everton FC for €16.8m in January 2018 and made a total of 100 appearances (twelve goals) for Chelsea. The midfielder was loaned out to Aston Villa last season and, after his return to the Blues under coach Thomas Tuchel, played no major role, making 14 appearances last season. According to English media reports, Chelsea Barkley paid a severance package to get him off the payroll. The right footer is said to have earned £200,000 (around €235,000) a week.

Costa, Zagadou & Co.: The most valuable free players

Zakaria Labyad – market value: €3m

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Last played for Ajax Amsterdam
As of September 5, 2022

Enock Kwateng – market value: €3 million

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Last played for Girondins Bordeaux

Berke Özer – market value: €3.5 million

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Last played for Fenerbahce

Diego Costa – Market value: €4m

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Last played for Atlético Mineiro

Edgar Ié – market value: €6.5 million

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Last played for Trabzonspor

Djibril Sidibé – market value: €8 million

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Last played for AS Monaco

Dan-Axel Zagadou – market value: €9m

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Most recently played for Borussia Dortmund

Xeka – market value: €9 million

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Last played for LOSC Lille

Serge Aurier – market value: €10m

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Last played for FC Villarreal

Jason Denayer – market value: €14m

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Last played for Olympique Lyon

In Nice, where he is now coached by Lucien Favre, Barkley is the 13th signing of the summer and will join former Premier League faces in Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pépé and former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

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