Villarreal striker Thierno Barry is “a leading target” for Everton in the summer transfer window, according to The Times.
By the half-way point of the 2024/25 season, it seemed set to be another campaign of battling relegation for Everton, who were struggling for Premier League consistency under the management of Sean Dyche. Soon after The Friedkin Group took over the club at the end of 2024, Dyche was sacked and replaced by David Moyes.
Moyes, returning to a club he managed for over a decade 12 years after departing, did a stellar job at steadying the Toffees and guiding them well-away from the bottom three. Everton ultimately finished the term in mid-table and can now look ahead, with new owners, a new stadium and, fans will hope, a new influx of players.
Everton have been linked with a number of moves this summer already as they prepare for the new campaign with more optimism than has been seen in recent years. Recent reports have indicated that the Toffees are looking to bolster their options at the attacking end of the pitch.
Everton Want Barry
Toffees ‘ready to intensify their interest’
Thierno Barry in action for Villarreal
The Times’ reporter Paul Joyce has reported that Everton are growing increasingly keen on Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, who has been dubbed an "elite" player. The French youth international moved to Spain in 2024 from Basel and impressed in his debut La Liga season, helping Villarreal finish fifth and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Thierno Barry 24/25 Season Stats
Competition
La Liga
Swiss Super League
Copa del Rey
Swiss Cup
Barry, who has a £34 million release clause, has attracted many potential suitors, including Everton. On paper, Barry would be a perfect fit for the Toffees. Beto found form under Moyes, though still needs to display such performances for a full campaign, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled for consistent fitness in recent years and has not yet signed a new contract with the club.
Both Beto and Calvert-Lewin are tall, imposing strikers, a trait that Barry, at 6’4” tall, definitely shares. Everton would, reportedly, “try and negotiate” a lower fee for the French forward, who has been described as a “cold-blooded killer” for his displays in Spain.
On paper, Barry would fit seamlessly into Moyes’ tactical set-up and is a player that, at just 22 years of age, could feasibly be a Premier League player for years to come. Whether the Toffees agree a deal, however, remains to be seen.
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( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 15/06/2025 )
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