Everton have completed the signing of highly rated France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry from Villarreal in a deal worth £27 million.
The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract, committing to the Toffees until June 2029. He becomes the Merseyside club’s first major signing of the summer transfer window and a key addition to their frontline following the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the end of his contract.
Barry scored 11 goals and recorded four assists in 38 appearances for Villarreal last season, helping the La Liga side secure a fifth-place finish and a return to the Champions League. The Spanish club had set a £34.5 million release clause in his contract, but Everton were able to negotiate a reduced fee.
Speaking to Evertontv, Barry said: “I’m very happy. It’s very exciting to be here. Everton is a big club in the Premier League. They have a good history and good players have played here, like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku.
“When I was young, I liked to watch these players, now I want to do like these players who have gone before.”
Barry’s arrival follows the exit of forward Armando Broja, who returned to Chelsea after his loan spell at Goodison Park ended. Manager David Moyes, who recently returned to Everton, is believed to have been heavily involved in securing the striker’s signature.
Barry’s rapid rise in European football has been nothing short of remarkable. Born in Lyon, he began his senior career in France’s fifth tier before making a move to Belgian second division club Beveren at 19. His 20 goals in 28 starts earned him a move to Swiss side Basel, where he finished his debut season as the top scorer with 12 goals.
That form caught the attention of Villarreal, who signed him in August 2024 for around £13 million. Barry wasted no time making an impression, netting eight goals in his first four appearances for the Yellow Submarine. He finished the season with 11 league goals, playing a key role in the club achieving their highest points total in 17 years.
Standing at 6ft 5in, Barry brings a significant aerial presence to Everton’s attack. In fact, during the 2024-25 season, he ranked second among all forwards in Europe’s top five leagues for aerial duel success, winning 66.7% of his 153 challenges — the highest percentage of any player in La Liga.
That attribute will be especially welcome at Everton, who ranked seventh in the Premier League for open-play crosses last season but struggled to convert them into goals, scoring just three times from such situations — better only than Chelsea’s two.
Barry’s style seems well suited to Moyes’ tactical approach, which has historically favoured target men capable of thriving on deliveries into the box. With Barry’s height, movement, and finishing ability, Everton will be hoping for a significant boost in offensive output next season.
His name now joins a select group of young talents under 23 who scored 10 or more goals in Europe’s top leagues last season — including Benjamin Sesko (Leipzig), Bradley Barcola (PSG), and Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt).
For Everton, this transfer represents both ambition and a calculated investment in a player with a proven trajectory of rapid development and top-level potential. If Barry’s rise continues, the £27 million fee could prove to be a bargain in the long run.
