Gareth Robert Barry

City's first signing of the summer of 2009, Gareth cost £12million from Aston Villa and proved a consistent and ultra-reliable performer in midfield, barely missing a game but picking up a rare injury in the penultimate match to put his World Cup in jeopardy.

City beat off the attentions of Liverpool to land the left footed England star who ended a dozen years in the Midlands when he signed a five-year contract.

Gareth’s first club was close to his Hastings home at Brighton and Hove Albion though he didn’t play a senior game for them before moving to Villa Park. He made his debut for them in May 1998 as a central defender. He also featured at left back before moving into midfield.

A fantastic servant for the Midlands club he clocked up his 400th appearance in the 2008/09 season and by the time he left had reached 440 to be seventh on the all-time list.

During his time at Villa he has also become a regular England international having featured under every manager from Kevin Keegan onwards and, all things being equal, is sure to be part of Fabio Capello’s thinking in the World Cup in South Africa next summer.

Gareth won his first cap as a substitute against Ukraine in May 2000 and his first start in September of the same year against France. Fabio Capello's high regard for him was reflected in Barry's World Cup call-up despite facing a fight to be fit.