Barry leads Premier League aerial duels chart as Opta figures highlight Everton impact
Thierno Barry has won more aerial duels than any other Premier League player this season, according to Opta figures highlighting the Everton striker’s growing influence.
The 24-year-old has won 45 aerial duels and attempted 36 shots in the league, with only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland recording more goal attempts, with 38.
Barry leads Premier League in aerial duels
Opta’s figures put Barry ahead of every other Premier League player for aerial duels won, with former Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin his nearest challenger on 43. What makes Barry’s numbers particularly striking is his combination of aerial strength and attacking involvement. No other player on the chart has won more than 40 aerial duels while also attempting more than 30 shots.
Thierno Barry.
Winning lots of aerial duels and taking on lots of shots.
He's won 45 aerial duels in the Premier League this season, the most of any player, while only Erling Haaland (38) has had more shots than Barry (36) this term.#EFC pic.twitter.com/xtpnrISnLO
— Aaron Barton (@Aaron__Barton) November 9, 2026
The statistics follow Barry’s impressive performance in Friday’s 3-1 victory over Coventry City, when he scored twice and set up Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall for Everton’s third goal.
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More than a physical presence
Barry’s aerial ability provides Everton with an option when playing forward, while his shooting figures show how regularly he is involved in efforts on goal. He has scored six Premier League goals this season, already moving towards the eight he managed across the whole of the previous campaign.
Shots and aerial duels alone cannot measure a striker’s overall effectiveness, but the figures offer further evidence of Barry’s importance to David Moyes’ side. For Everton, the encouraging sign is that Barry is combining his physical qualities with a greater contribution in front of goal. His latest numbers suggest he is becoming an increasingly important part of the Blues’ attack.
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Gary Gowers is a sports journalist and the editor of Read Everton, where he leads daily coverage of Everton news, transfers and analysis. He also writes about Manchester City for Read Man City and motorsport for Read Motorsport. A former accountant, he became a freelance writer in 2011 and has written for BBC Sport and Metro.
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