Barry Ryan Bannan (born 1 December 1989) is a Scottish non-professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for and captains EFL Championship club Sheffield Wednesday.

After four years in their youth and reserve sides he made his senior debut for Aston Villa in 2008, and was subsequently loaned to Derby County, Blackpool and Leeds United in the Championship to gain experience.

In 2013, he signed for Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee, and after a brief loan to Bolton Wanderers, moved on to Sheffield Wednesday.

The bit of skill sent the crowd wild and Albion Rovers chairman Davie Shanks was impressed, saying "He's the best player out there".

[4] Bannan joined Celtic's youth academy in 2002; he was 14 when he chose to accept a trial offer from Aston Villa.

[6] His first team debut came on 17 December, as a 61st-minute substitute for Craig Gardner in a 1–3 UEFA Cup group stage defeat to German side Hamburger SV at the Volksparkstadion,[8] and made his full début in the same competition's Round of 32, a 0–2 defeat away to Russian Premier League side CSKA Moscow on 26 February 2009.

[12] In November 2009, Bannan joined Championship side Blackpool on loan,[13] making his debut as an 87th-minute substitute in the 1–1 West Lancashire derby with Preston North End at Bloomfield Road.

In January 2010 the loan was extended to the end of the season,[15] and two days later Bannan scored his first goal for the club, with a 30-yard lob, in a 1–1 draw away to Coventry City.

[16] In February 2010, Bannan was one of three players, along with Ishmel Demontagnac and Neal Eardley, disciplined by Ian Holloway, when they were seen out at a nightclub two days previously in Blackpool following the home defeat to Leicester City.

He was given a run of games in the first team by manager Gérard Houllier due to the absence of many first-team players through injury.

[21] Bannan scored his first goal in the Premier League for Villa with a 57th-minute penalty against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on 25 September 2011.

Towards the end of the 2012–13 season, Bannan found his first team opportunities limited and a move away from the club looked increasingly likely.

[citation needed] Bannan signed a three-year contract with Crystal Palace on 2 September 2013, for an undisclosed fee.

[citation needed] On 31 August 2015, Bannan signed a one-year deal with Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee.

[54] After the win against Oxford United in December, he moved into the clubs top 10 all-time appearance makers, replacing Teddy Davison and Ernest Blenkinsop.

[68] Aston Villa manager Gérard Houllier likened Bannan to Barcelona midfielders Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, saying "He is an intelligent player, he can read the game well and adapt well.

"[69] Ian Holloway, who Bannan played under during his time at Blackpool, described him as "a beautiful footballer, absolutely lovely to watch".

[70] Bannan's height and playing style have also led to Scotland teammate Darren Fletcher comparing him to the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Paul Scholes.

[76] Bannan supports his former team, Celtic and his boyhood hero is midfielder Stiliyan Petrov, with whom he played at Aston Villa.