Manchester City manager Mark Hughes is confident Gareth Barry will prove to be a snip at £12million.

Hughes made a surprise swoop for the midfielder last week, adding Barry's name to a growing list of impressive signings funded by the Abu Dhabi United Group since their takeover last summer.

As a regular member of Fabio Capello's England side, Barry is a 12-season veteran at Villa, where his impact was recognised with the captain's armband. Richard Dunne is not about to lose that honour providing he remains at Eastlands.

However, Hughes does feel a fresh environment will bring a greater aura to Barry's game. He also believes the 28-year-old will provide excellent value for money, even though he only had a year of his contract still to run.

"We have got a bargain because Gareth is coming into the best years of his career," said Hughes. "He is now a senior player but I only became a stronger person when I moved somewhere else.

"His standing in the game will raise as a result of us paying a significant amount of money for him."