Gareth Barry is staying at Villa for the rest of the season, boss Martin O’Neill has confirmed.

O’Neill delivered the news all Villa fans have been waiting to hear,revealing the England star wants to commit his future to the claret and blue cause until the end of the campaign at least.

Barry’s decision now looks certain to put an end to January transfer speculation over his future, preventing a repeat of the summer-long transfer saga which engulfed him and the club in stories of an imminent move to Liverpool.

O’Neill said: “This news will lift me, the players and hopefully, the player himself. It increases our determination to keep going and shows we are pushing in the right direction.

“This is what Gareth wants to do. It is very, very pleasing and I am delighted. We will sit down again in the summer, have a chat and see what progress we are making.

“He has given the football club fantastic service and wants to put the trauma of the summer behind him.

“His game is top-notch at the moment and he is playing very well. He wants to leave all the speculation behind him and get on with his game.”