Ross Barkley, a former Chelsea midfielder, has joined the Premier League exodus to Ligue 1 side Nice.
Barkley, an England international, was released from his contract at Stamford Bridge on Monday after making just six Premier League appearances last season.
The midfielder joined from Everton in January 2018, but he was never a regular starter under Antonio Conte, Maurizio Sarri, Frank Lampard, or Thomas Tuchel.
He spent the 2020-21 season on loan at Aston Villa, where he appeared to be forming a promising partnership with Jack Grealish, but his form dipped and the loan was not extended.
Barkley had been linked with a return to Everton, but he has chosen to play in France alongside fellow British players Aaron Ramsey and Joe Bryan at Nice.
The signing of the 28-year-old midfielder was announced shortly before Nice’s Ligue 1 home match against Monaco on Sunday.
Nice have recently signed goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel on permanent terms from Leicester City and winger Nicolas Pepe on loan from Arsenal, in addition to Bryan, who is on loan from Fulham.
Morgan Schneiderlin, a former Southampton, Everton, and Manchester United midfielder, is also a Nice player.