Hull City were reportedly poised to sign Premier League starlet Louie Barry, but it has now emerged that a major financial spanner has been thrown in the works.
Hull City are heading into the 2025/26 Championship campaign with a new head coach in the dugout, after Hull sacked Ruben Selles in May.
Sergej Jakirovic was appointed by Hull as Selles’ successor, which saw one Championship expert stunned by Hull’s Jakirovic decision.
The Tigers flirted with relegation to League One throughout the Championship season, placing extra emphasis on Hull owner Acun Illicali to complete some stellar business in the summer transfer window, to help the new boss push for the top half of the table.
This week, Hull were poised to complete the signing of Louie Barry from Aston Villa, but now the deal is reportedly in tatters after a major financial stumbling block on the Tigers’ part has been revealed.
Louie Barry of Stockport County during the Sky Bet League One match between Stockport County FC and Peterborough United FC at Edgeley Park
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Louie Barry’s move to Hull City is in doubt over ‘affordability concerns’
Hull were set to sign Barry as early as this morning (July 1), after agreeing a £3.5m deal with Villa for the 22-year-old star.
Athletic reporter Jacob Tanswell broke the news, outlining that “Villa have inserted a substantial sell-on clause into the fee”, which would see the Premier League outfit bank a sizeable portion of any future Barry sale from Hull.
In a matter of hours, this has developed into a major stumbling block for Hull’s pursuit of Barry, given that Villa want to set the sell-on clause at a staggering 50 percent, of which the Tigers are “struggling to meet” the financial package agreed, including Barry’s salary.
Tanswell revealed via The Athletic: “Louie Barry’s move to Hull City is in doubt due to affordability concerns. Talks continue but Hull struggling to meet overall package, including £3.5m fee (50% sell-on) & Barry’s salary.”
Hull led the chase for Barry throughout the window, and remain keen to bring the left-winger back to the MKM Stadium, after his four-game loan spell last season was cut short due to injury.
In the first part of the 2024/25 campaign, before joining Hull, Barry notched 16 goals and registered two assists in 24 appearances for Stockport County, with his displays catching attention from several suitors in the EFL.
Tanswell adds in the report that “Barry has interest elsewhere in the EFL, with other suitors now expected to return now the proposed move to Hull hasn’t progressed.”
Hull must act fast before another Championship side capitalises on the deal, or risk losing out on what could’ve been the second tier signing of the summer, given Barry’s pedigree and potential.
Louie Barry of Hull City plays during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland and Hull City at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland
Photo by MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Hull City must press forward with £3.5m Louie Barry signing
Hull are at risk of missing out on one of the EFL’s most promising prospects if they fail to press forward with the £3.5m move for Barry despite the sell-on clause stumbling block.
EFL Analysis understands that Hull can “spend big” this summer, and they must utilise those available funds to complete the Barry deal, before another interested Championship party jumps into the Tigers’ grave.
Although a transfer between Birmingham City and Aston Villa is a rarity, Birmingham were linked with Barry earlier in the window, but given that Barry is a boyhood Villa supporter that potential move seems unlikely.
Statistic For Stockport County For Hull City
Games played 24 4
Goals 16 0
Assists 2 0
Louie Barry’s goalscoring record from loans in the 2024/25 season
Sheffield United have been told to sign Barry, after he arrived at the MKM Stadium under Selles, and the Blades could be a potential destination for the former Barcelona youngster with left-winger Ben Brereton Diaz’s loan stint from Southampton concluding this summer.
Hull owner Illicali has a good relationship with Aston Villa, and he must call in a favour at Villa Park to secure Barry’s signature, before one of the Tigers’ Championship rivals makes a play for the 16-goal winger.