West Brom sign Barry to fill Fletcher void

West Brom have completed the signing of Gareth Barry from Everton for an undisclosed fee.

The former Aston Villa and Manchester City midfielder arrives at The Hawthorns on an initial one-year contract, having turned down the offer of a new contract on Merseyside.

“I want to come and help the team,” he told the Baggies’ official website. “That’s always been the same for me wherever I have played. 

“I want to help the team improve, work hard and hopefully add quality.”

Our newest recruit…#WBA pic.twitter.com/IpQIo8GqAg

— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) August 15, 2017

Manager Tony Pulis hopes Barry, who has been capped on 53 occasions by England, will help cover for the loss of Darren Fletcher to Stoke City earlier in the close season.

“There was a big void when we lost ‘Fletch’ and Gareth will fill that void,” said Pulis.

“He’s a fantastic player and I think his attitude towards playing is really gauged by the fact that Everton had offered him a two-year contract to stay there.

“He really wants to play and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

The 36-year-old Barry is five matches short of breaking Ryan Giggs’ Premier League appearance record.