Barry signs

What a day. I'm sorry for not being here; I spent my day with Tom Barry rather than Manchester City and England's Gareth Barry.

But you all know the details: Villa announced that we had permission to talk to Barry this morning, he passed a medical this afternoon and this evening he was confirmed as having signed a five year deal. Like Stephen Ireland, he is contracted at City until 2014.

The pace is striking. There was the News of the World story on Sunday but little else heralding this. Like the Vincent Kompany deal there were a few hours between the selling club announcing an agreement and our confirming it. It's the best way of doing transfer deals - none of the frustration of waiting, just the thrill of the news itself.

But the real significance of this goes beyond that. It is the strongest sign yet of how attractive a proposition we have become to players. Sometimes the facts need re-stating: one of England's first choice midfielders, captain of Aston Villa, chased by Liverpool and Arsenal, has joined City - where he will line up alongside Holland's first choice holding midfielder. This is also the first major transfer done by an English club this summer - the transfer window doesn't even technically open for another month. I know it's obvious, but this is what money gets you.

And so our summer of fun begins. If this is how it starts, god knows how fun July and August will be. But the outlines of Hughes' plans are clear: quality - not potential quality (the Eriksson plan), not bygone quality (the Keegan plan) but players who are now, or soon to be, at the top of their games. And Premier League quality, too. Not from what Joey Barton called 'the Pontins League over in Belgium'; but players at ease with the competition and the environment. Since the ADUG money came, Hughes has bought five players now (discounting Robinho) - and all but Nigel de Jong have been of proven Premier League experience and quality.

So when the board and the manager say we want to finish sixth next season, we know they're serious.