Ross Barkley has candidly shared his journey to sobriety after facing challenges with alcohol throughout his career.

The midfielder is currently thriving at Aston Villa under the guidance of Unai Emery. However, the 31-year-old has experienced both triumphs and tribulations since his debut with Everton, the club he grew up supporting.

Some of these challenges have involved alcohol-related incidents that ultimately led Barkley to commit to an alcohol-free professional life.

Fatherhood, a new chapter that began for him last December, along with a realization of his finite time in the sport, played significant roles in his decision.

“Alcohol can cause issues for many, and I’ve come to realize that,” Barkley explained. “Staying away from it keeps my mind clear and free from mental stress. There are numerous advantages to living without it.”

Aston Villa star Ross Barkley has shared his decision to become teetotal in a new interview

The player has been involved in a number of high profile alcohol-related incidents during his professional career

While at Everton and later with Chelsea, which he joined in 2018, Barkley faced criticism for several alcohol-related controversies, including accusations of flouting Covid-19 regulations during a birthday celebration.

Barkley also hit the headlines in 2021 after he squared up to a bouncer at The May Fair Hotel in London over a drunken row with diners which was filmed by fellow patrons.  

In November 2019 during the international break, Barkley was filmed dancing topless in a Dubai nightclub after being given permission to go on holiday by Chelsea due to an ankle injury keeping him out of the England squad. 

Barkley also referenced an incident which took place a month earlier that year that saw him embroiled in a row with a taxi driver over payment, with the player refusing to pay due to having ‘no cash’ despite spilling his chips in the cab. 

The midfielder was escorted to an ATM by two police officers at the scene, later paying for his journey.  

‘A few times I went out, and if you drink too much, you do things you regret,’ Barkley added. ‘I’d go out and have too much to drink, and then it would get back to the club. One time, I went out on a Sunday in Liverpool and we had a game on a Wednesday. I got videoed, and then it was in the paper.’

Barkley revealed that then-manager Frank Lampard had offered him advice that he should ‘learn from’ the incident, and ‘pick and choose’ the right times to indulge, with the head coach later punishing him by taking him to France for an away clash – only to let him watch the match from the coach. 

As recently as this June, Barkley’s partying made the news, with the star captured partying a music festival in Barcelona with former Everton team-mate John Lundstram. 

As recently as this June Barkley was spotted partying at an all-day festival in Barcelona

In November 2019 Barkley hit the headlines when he was filmed dancing topless in a nightclub in Dubai

Barkley raised eyebrows with a video he shared to Instagram showing himself dancing in a taxi looking a touch worse-for-wear. 

But the England international shared that he had come to the decision to change his mentality around drinking after discussing his issues with others, and speaking to a sports psychologist. 

Barkley admitted that he has had therapy throughout his career which he has found ‘beneficial’. 

But the player nonetheless found it challenging to move away from his boyhood club after struggling to ‘breathe’ playing in Liverpool, where he grew up. 

Barkley had flourished under David Moyes during his first stint in the Goodison Park dugout, but opted not to extend his contract under Ronald Koeman in the summer of 2017. 

The player later suffered a long-term hamstring injury which kept him from featuring during his final season at the club. 

‘I was crying,’ Barkley shared. ‘I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to stay at Everton for life, or if I needed to get away from my comfort zone.

‘I cried about leaving because of my love for the club. It changed my life. The support from everyone coming through – from the fans, to the staff who were father figures, to the kit men who I’d be in their room every day having banter, but then knowing that Everton weren’t going to have me in my prime, was difficult.

‘But I had to make a decision because when I left, Everton were dipping. It was a little bit toxic at that point.’ 

Barkley is back in the Villa squad after being excused at the start of the season by Emery for a ‘personal issue’ in August and September. 

The player has since made five appearances in the Premier League, registering his first goal of the campaign on Sunday against Bournemouth in his side’s 4-0 win against the Cherries.