Town have completed the signing of Aston Villa forward Louie Barry on a season-long loan.

The 18-year-old can go straight into the squad for tomorrow’s opening day game at home to Morecambe with his deal having been completed prior to the midday deadline.

“It’s been a crazy few days and as soon as I found out Ipswich were interested, I wanted to make the move,” Barry told iFollow Ipswich.

“I felt the manager’s enthusiasm as soon as I walked in and I am really looking forward to working under him.

“The club made me feel wanted and you can tell it’s a club going in the right direction. I want to play my part and be involved.”

Town boss Paul Cook added: “Louie is such an exciting player. He really wants to play football and do well in a first-team environment.

“Our job is to provide him with a platform to build and also give him an opportunity to express himself. If it’s not tomorrow then he certainly will be involved on Tuesday in some capacity.”

Barry was a youth player with West Brom for 10 years from the age of eight before moving to Barcelona in 2019.

After only six months with the Catalonian giants he returned to the Midlands in January last year and joined Villa for a fee of £880,000.

Barry’s only senior appearance so far came in the FA Cup last season in which he also scored his first goal in a 4-1 defeat to Liverpool.

Last season, he scored 20 goals in his 26 games, including that goal against the Reds, netting five and assisted four as Villa’s U18s won the FA Youth Cup.

Sutton Coldfield-born Barry has won England caps at U15, U16, U17 and U18 levels and also U15 and U16 with the Republic of Ireland.

Barry is the Blues' 11th signing of the summer with Portsmouth's Michael Jacobs set to become the 12th and with manager Cook anticipating a 13th by Monday.

Photo: ITFC

Nobbysnuts added 16:55 - Aug 6 My only concern with this signing is if he is no better than lankester I don't understand getting rid of him......
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carlisleaway added 16:57 - Aug 6 Same as Andoverfirst, spoke to a long time Villa season ticket holder and reckons this boy reminds him of Grealish as a young boy, cannot understand why we need more forwards though. Onwards and upwards. COYB
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inghamspur added 16:59 - Aug 6 We don't have any excuses at all now for not going up automatically this season. All down to the manager & his staff to make sure that the very best is brought out of these players. Can't wait until tomorrow, a really exciting season in prospect, where we can just look back at the last 2 or 3 seasons as distant memories of a very dark past. Come on you Town!!
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:28 - Aug 6 Bluesteel ! and we never send anyone out on loan do we ? get real ,
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istanblue added 17:46 - Aug 6 This guy could be a GAMECHANGER for us!
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Cadiar added 17:54 - Aug 6 Was bluesteel weaned on a sour tit?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:56 - Aug 6 Nobbysnuts again where is Lankasters team and where is this guys team? He has been tutored by Barcelona as well as a kid don't forget. All I'm seeing on Instagram are Villa fans saying what a signing we've got so to compare him to Lankaster who isn't representing a premier league team is ridiculous at best! Welcome to the club Louie COYB's
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Upthetown1970 added 18:02 - Aug 6 We should be developing our own. Cook let Gibbs join Norwich (his words). We should have focused on developing Gibbs instead of Barry. What's happening with Baggott hes another player we should be looking at developing. This doesn't make sense to me. Welcome Louie.
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JimInGreensboro added 18:08 - Aug 6 A creative talent, indeed.
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planetblue_2011 added 19:14 - Aug 6 This is another great signing, young & hungry great bit of business! Welcome aboard Barry👍
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braveblue added 19:33 - Aug 6 This boy looks like pure quality. What great loan signing.
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runaround added 19:35 - Aug 6 Welcome to Portman Road Louie
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Lightningboy added 20:00 - Aug 6 Remember him scoring that goal vs Liverpool...let's hope he's another Lawrence/Williams/Fraser/Celina type & we're signing him permanently in 12 months time.
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Uppatown90 added 20:05 - Aug 6 People on here moaning about loan signings clearly DO NOT HAVE A CLUE about football. This is one incredibly highly rated young player who has the potential to be a future star in the Premier league and for his country. It is an absolute credit to the work the club are doing that they are able to bring in this sort of talent, be it a loan deal or not! Buzzing for tomorrow and can not wait to get back into Portman road to support our club!

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Nobbysnuts added 20:05 - Aug 6 Beattiesbackpocket...I'm just saying people aim criticism at the club for letting our youngsters leave and then sign someone else's albeit on loan. It's a reasonable question to ask seeing as this player will no doubt go back to villa. To many managers on this forum.
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TimmyH added 20:16 - Aug 6 For a moment I thought Gareth was still playing...
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KiwiTractor added 20:40 - Aug 6 Welcome Louie. Not sure about the math though - how is he still 18 if "Barry was a youth player with West Brom for 10 years from the age of eight before moving to Barcelona in 2019"...?
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dubblue added 20:58 - Aug 6 My brother in law is a Villa fán and rates him highly só looks a good move!
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:14 - Aug 6 Nobbysnuts including yourself. Our kids quite simply haven't been good enough the last quality player we produced was wickham. This kid oozes skill he was tutored by Barcelona so technically will be good quick and can score so what point are you trying to make?? Our other kids haven't been anywhere near that good as he has been so far
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:16 - Aug 6 Nobbysnuts comparing him and Lankaster is mental he's being kept by a premier league team who if you go on social media is being compared rightly or tingly to grealish by Villa fans and management Lankaster never had that in him.
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Dog added 00:18 - Aug 7 Best signing of the summer
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RegencyBlue added 08:58 - Aug 7 Presumably that spells the end for Jackson as I can't see him getting game time ahead of quality like this!
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shakytown added 13:47 - Aug 7 Cadir. A Norwich tit most likely. Sounds very much like Betty budgie is back.
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Nobbysnuts added 18:07 - Aug 7 Beattiesbackpocket.....I think your find he went to summer camp at Barcelona...this doesn't make him lionel Messi........
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