Emile Heskey
Emile Heskey played for Blues and Villa
Former Birmingham City and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey has told Louie Barry to become the latest player to wear both clubs’ colours.
Barry, who came through at West Brom before moving to the Villa academy in 2020, has been linked with a cross-city transfer to join Chris Davies’ upwardly mobile Blues.
That comes as he recuperates from an injury that curtailed a campaign that had begun so promisingly for the 21-year-old.
Barry started the 2024/25 season off with Blues’ League One rivals Stockport County – and set a scintillating pace with 16 goals in just 24 appearances.
That saw him recalled by Villa and given a first taste of Championship action with Hull City. However, the forward played just four games before injury struck.
Since then Villa are said to be preparing to sanction another loan move for Barry , while Blues are understood to have held internal talks about launching a bid for him.
Heskey, who played 78 times for Blues between 2004-06 and 110 for Villa before he left in 2012, has told the youngster to take the plunge.
Heskey told Football League World : “He’s coming of age, isn’t he? He’s been a wonderkid and shown what he can do but now is a step to really establish himself as a first-team regular in the Championship, which is probably the fifth or sixth-best league in the world.
“I think it’s great to see that he’s performing that way to then have the likes of Birmingham looking at him because we’ve seen so many wonderkids fall off, but he seems to be taking the right steps, and this could be a massive step for him to start establishing himself.
“I followed him for years when he was playing for the England youths, so there’s no reason why he can’t start having aspirations of the (England) first team.”
Should Barry move to Blues? Have your say here
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