Joey BARTON (Marseille)

D.O.B.

02/09/1982

Birthplace

Huyton

Height

1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

Position

DMC, MC

Signed

26/08/2011

Fee

Free Transfer

Former Clubs

Manchester City, Newcastle United

International

England

Pen Pic

A controversial figure, Joey Barton has never been too far from the headlines for the wrong reasons in a coloured past.


Assaults, sendings off and some good displays would accurately sum up his time at Manchester City. A player that had great potential was his own worst enemy, culminating in the training ground bust up with Ousmane Dabo.


He made the move to Newcastle United for £5.8m with Sam Allardyce a keen admirer of the midfielder. But another assault and a spell in prison would dramatically curb his progress.


Newcastle were relegated and Barton followed them into the Championship. After promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt, Barton criticised Newcastle United's hierarchy, leading him to be available free of charge.


Neil Warnock took up that option and made Barton captain at QPR in what was perceived as a real coup. Barton let himself down against Norwich City, being sent off after scoring a goal, before being booed off while Rangers were behind against Liverpool.


Rangers went on to turn the game on its head to win 3-2, and Barton eventually worked his way back in with positive displays. He let himself down and nearly his club's entire season when he was sent off for losing his head against former club Man City.


Elbowing Carlos Tevez, kicking Sergio Aguero and headbutting Vincent Kompany saw Barton receive a deserved 12-match ban - preventing him from taking part in the early stages of the 2012-13 campaign.

He was farmed out to Olympique Marseille on loan for the 2012-13 season.