- RB Leipzig have contacted Everton regarding a potential move for Thierno Barry
- Everton paid €35 million for Barry from Villarreal only last summer
- The club insist they must recoup their investment before any sale is considered
Everton are facing an early test of their transfer resolve this summer, after reports emerged that RB Leipzig have made contact over a potential move for striker Thierno Barry.
The news, broken by Times journalist Paul Joyce – one of the more reliable sources on matters at the Hill Dickinson – will concern some supporters who have watched Barry start to find his form at precisely the wrong moment, just as European interest comes calling.
Equally, some will still be wary of Barry after his group of friends were spotted celebrating Arsenal goals in the away end at the Toffees’ defeat at the Emirates. For many Evertonians, that soured their view of the Frenchman.
The 23-year-old contributed eight Premier League goals last season, a return that hinted at the potential which persuaded Everton to make him one of the most high-profile signings of the Friedkin era.
A run of four goals in five games mid-season offered a glimpse of what Barry is capable of when firing on all cylinders, and there was a reasonable expectation that next season could be his breakthrough campaign.
Everton’s stance, however, is clear. The club paid an initial €35 million to bring Barry to Merseyside from Villarreal last July, making him the seventh most expensive signing in the club’s history.
With Villarreal also holding a ten per cent sell-on clause, the financial threshold for any deal to make sense is considerable. Sources close to the club are clear: Barry does not leave unless Everton’s initial outlay is fully recovered.
Moyes looking to add rather than take away
That position is logical both from a financial and footballing perspective. Barry arrived with a good pedigree – 15 goal contributions in LaLiga and a key role in Villarreal’s Champions League qualification – and the club have every reason to believe the biggest chunk of their return on that investment is still ahead of them.
For David Moyes, retaining his striker will likely be a priority. Building cohesion and continuity within his forward line ahead of the 2026/27 campaign is clearly vital, and losing Barry now would represent a significant setback to that plan. The Everton boss will be looking to add to his attacking options, not diminish them.
Leipzig’s approach is, to be fair, a measure of Barry’s growing reputation, but Everton are under no pressure to sell, and certainly not be doing so on anything less than their own terms.
