CITY contract rebel Joey Barton has finally committed himself to the club.
The midfielder, impressed by manager Stuart Pearce's pre-season signings, signed a new four-year, é30,000-a-week contract at the Blues' Carrington training ground this morning.
He said: "It's great that everything has been sorted out. I am grateful for the support and faith that the manager and chairman have shown in me.
"I have always given my absolute maximum for this football club and I am looking forward to the new season and helping City progress."
The contract saga has dragged on for six months with Barton, 23, receiving widespread criticism for taking his time after the club stood by him following two headline grabbing controversies.
First he narrowly avoided the sack after stubbing a cigar in the eye of a young team-mate at a Christmas party in 2004 and last year was sent home from a club tour following a brawl in a Bangkok bar.
Barton enraged fans in January by slapping in a transfer request - but only Middlesbrough expressed any interest.
Pearce has shown faith in Barton, encouraging him to undergo lifestyle coaching following his disipline problems, and although supporters were split over his contract stance, he won backing at the weekend at the Rochdale friendly.
What is your verdict on the news? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
am happy, but more bothered by distin. lets hope he signs too as well as arca and we can kick on to the new season
great news now lets get behind him, every city fan must secretly be happy that he has signed.
Glad he's signed: glad this story is over.
now lets sell him
This is great news, absolutely great. Sarcasm alert, sarcasm alert. Should have got rid of the greedy....
One down, two to go!! In all fairness, i'm very pleased at this. We should always try to keep hold of our better players, and although Joey isn't the best player to ever grace a blue shirt he certainly wears his heat on his sleeve. His ability should improve with the addition to the squad of Didi and Dabo, and I get the feeling he may be moved out to the right hand side of midfield this season a la Steven Gerrard. For all those who have slated him and will no doubt continue to do this, please, please channel your energies into something else, eg improving the atmosphere at COMS, or even maybe turning up to a game once in a while.......
Devastated.
Will the extra cash make him tfrain more on putting in 1 or 2 decent free kicks, corners or even pass better ?. Don't know why but, somehow feel he should have gone to Middlesbrough ?. Anyway onwards & upwards !
Fantastic news, we should use this signing as a benchmark and build on it. Lets have Distin and Micah signing new deals and to me, if you include Sturridge - thats like having 4 new signings to add to the impressive 5 we have made: Dabo, Hamann, Corradi, Dickov and Hart. We could do with a whole new left side as we dont own a left winger other than ish and our left backs are the worst in the league bar none. "Joey Barton is a blue, is a blue, is a blue, Joey Barton is a blue - "
But never mind that... Micah has signed a four year deal.... YAHOO!!!
About time Joey.
Now lets get behind him for the new season.
Sylvain, please take note !!!
CTID
I know Barton has had a lot of off field problems and his agent hasn't helped but the lad has signed his contract and i for one will be fully behind him come the start of the season.
so he has signed has he? im glad cos it gives us more options in midfield but how long before he throws a temper tantrum again due to Dabo and Hamann running the midfield. i feel by xmas we will have more press related incidents with Mr Barton and his loveable agent.
disgusted ! he is using the club cause no one else wants him.....wardle out !
It's great to see him sign but will he play with Dabo and Hamann in the squad? If not can we really afford to have a ??30,000 a week player on the bench? Still he is one of the best young English midfielders.
Now stick him in the reserves for four years.
Ooops should have waited, 2 down, 1 to go!! Get in, best news day of the summer so far, I take my hat off to Wardle, Pearce and all the staff at the club, I finally feel that the club is REALLY moving in the right direction. Very, very pleased.
stoked.
Not at all happy but at least I dont have to read about it anymore
greatb :):):)
richards with captain dunney in the centre, nedum right back, distin left if he signs, dabo n hamman in front of the backs, barton behind the strikers, then take your pic psycho for a front three!!
Great news on Barton and Richards signing new contracts i know some didn't want barton but he's got energy and can be a good player, After all he's still young and i don't think we could have replaced him only for another bosman and that means this time next year we would have an ageing team.
Here's to europe and thursday night footy
Oh joy, we're stuck with him...
I still think Joey needs to sack his agent to paper over some of the cracks. That would be a good PR move with the fans. If he shows the "Dickov Spirit" then it will be great for us and the player. I just have a concern that we could be in the same situation again in 18 months time. Joey seems to like the drama, whether its contracts or fracas'. Potentially, at the age of 23, he could still be a future England international. Perhaps the signings of Hamann, Corradi and Dabo have persuaded him that the club has a future.
He will have to play out of his skin to get me back onside, and learn to pass a ball. Lets hope he does'nt let the club or its supporters down again.