Compensation controversy, 'Little Vardy' and loan spells: Four years since Louie Barry's move from West Brom to Barcelona

PSG and Barcelona were leading the way and it was the Catalan giants who won the race for his signature.

The following years have been filled with transfer compensation wrangles, a delayed registration, a return to England and his boyhood club, and string of loans spells.

The young striker has a year left on his deal at Villa Park, which is set to expire in July 2024.

As he approaches the final 12 months of his contract we have a look back at his career so far and what has happened since he burst into the headlines in 2019.

An emerging talent

Barry signed for Albion at the age of nine, and fast became a prominent name within the Baggies academy as he rose through the age groups.

His prowess in front of goal led to an international call-up, and it was following three goals in the UEFA tournament Val-de-Marne, which England Under 16s won, and further goals at the Montaigu Tournament in France, that led to European interest.

As clubs began to circle, Albion tried to keep hold of a player who looked like he could become a prized asset.

But despite their eagerness to keep Barry at the club, his ten year association with Albion came to an end with he signed for Barca in July 2019, after reportedly coming close to moving to PSG.

Compensation wrangles and a delayed start

Barry became the first English player to join Barca's famous La Masia academy, but he had to wait three months for his international registration to be confirmed, meaning he missed the first seven matches of the club's under 19 campaign.

At the time it was reported West Brom were due to receive in the region of £230,000 for Barry, but the situation would quickly turn ugly.

In September 2019 it was announced that Albion were set to report the Spanish giants to FIFA, claiming they had not received the compensation they were due.

This was contested by Barca, who said they did not believe the scholarship Albion had offered Barry had international standing.

Eventually, more than two years later, a judgement ruled in favour of the La Liga club in November 2021 ruling Albion were due no further compensation.

The situation was explained in meeting of the Albion Assembly, a group of fans who meet with club officials, in late 2021.

It was stated that players can be offered a scholarship at 14, which is recognised domestically but not by FIFA, who state that in order to satisfy their rules, a further offer must be made at 15.

Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens said that according to a FIFA report, a second offer was not made. In the notes of the meeting, it read: "RS (Richard Stevens) said the club needs to ensure this never happens again.”

Barcelona

Barry signed a three year deal and made his debut for the under 19 side in October 2019, netting in his first start.

He made ten competitive appearances in the 2019/2020 season and scored twice, but just six months into his deal he was set for a return to home soil, which led to more controversy.

Boyhood return

In January 2020, it was reported that after six months at Barca, Barry was in talks with his boyhood club Aston Villa.

Later that month he signed for the club for £880,000, a fee that could rise to £3.5m with add ons.

He opened up about his time at Barca and the chance to make a move to his boyhood club in a BBC special last year.

After he returned to England, reports emerged that West Brom were seeking legal advice regarding the move.

At the time, Albion were still battling for compensation and had not learned at that point that they would not receive any.

Nothing materialised, and in June that year he appeared in the EFL Trophy for the Under 21s, before scoring on his senior debut against Liverpool in the FA Cup after a number of first team players tested positive for Covid.

He would be referred to after the game by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp as 'Little Jamie Vardy', and his strike was voted goal of the round.

Soon after, Villa exercised an option to extend his deal until 2024.

Loan spells

In August 2021, he was sent out on loan to League One Ipswich Town, but a season-long deal was cut short in January after just six outings.

Later that month he went out again, this time to League Two Swindon where he scored six goals in 16 appearances in all competitions.

The following season, Barry would scored three goals in 52 appearances across two loan spells with MK Dons and Salford City, and he did help the latter almost secure promotion to League One before losing in the play-offs.

What now?

Barry isn't one of the youngsters who has travelled on the US pre-season tour with Villa's first team.

He turned out for the Under 21's in their recent victory over Solihull Moors, and captained the side against Hereford earlier this week.