- Barry faces a crucial crossroads following a turbulent debut Everton campaign.
- Fractured fan relations and off-pitch friction threaten Barry’s Everton future.
- Everton scout new strikers as Barry’s role looks untenable ahead of summer.
And it started off with such promise. It was on July 9, 2025, when Thierno Barry was introduced to the world as an Everton player.
We thought, or at least hoped, he was the answer. Since the departure of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, an out-and-out number 9, has been missing from the Everton armoury. Beto threatened to be that man, but never quite looked the part, and so Barry was supposed to be the answer.
Except he wasn’t.
Since that £27m move from Villarreal last summer, the 23-year-old French striker has had a turbulent campaign, characterised by flashes of huge potential and mixed with some significant off-pitch issues.
“Friends” controversy
Now, the biggest threat to Barry’s long-term stay at the Hill Dickinson Goodison Park isn’t his disappointing scoring record.
Following the 2-0 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates in March, a hell-up ensued. Barry’s friends, who were all seated in the Everton away end, stood accused of celebrating the Arsenal goals. Reportedly, a physical altercation followed and was then publicly condemned by Barry, who accused the Everton fans involved of “unacceptable behaviour.”
The player later clarified that his friends were not Arsenal fans but instead his friends (“personal guests” he called them) who have followed him from Basel to Villarreal.
But the damage was done. Barry was subsequently booed by Everton fans during his substitute appearance in the 3-0 win over Chelsea, and made an immediate exit down the tunnel after the match.
He was also accused, by some, of not celebrating Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s equaliser at Brentford after coming on as a 74th-minute replacement for Beto.
Striker reinforcements in the offing
Barry’s position looks even more perilous when considered in conjunction with David Moyes’ summer transfer plans, which are said to include the purchase of a marquee striker.
Moyes is, reportedly, prioritising a more consistent goal threat to bolster a strike force that has simply struggled for goals over the last couple of seasons. Everton have recently been linked with several high-profile targets:
- Santiago Castro: The Bologna striker is thought to be a primary target, with a reported valuation of £34.6m.
- Christian Kofane: Recent reports indicate the Toffees are closely following the Bayer Leverkusen striker.
- Liam Delap and Jhon Duran: Both, reportedly, remain on Moyes’ and James Smith’s shortlist as the Finch Farm recruitment team looks to improve upon the current Barry-Beto ‘rota’.
Verdict: Stay or go?
Statistically, Barry’s numbers look okay-ish, and on occasions, he has proved himself a real handful for defences. His six goals and Premier League record of 14 successful aerial duels against Manchester United suggest he has the tools for English football.
But, with a contract running until 2029, Everton have a decision to make: do they sell now and recoup a big chunk of that £27m, or trust Moyes to reintegrate a player whose place in the squad is now regarded as untenable by some?
If Everton secure European football, additional squad depth will be a must, but if a suitable bid lands for Barry this summer, which would free up funds to make a move on a target like, say, Castro, then it feels like a no-brainer.
