Everton closes in on Villarreal striker Thierno Barry in £34.5m pursuit

Everton is making significant strides towards securing the signing of promising France Under-21s international striker Thierno Barry from Spanish club Villarreal. The 22-year-old forward, who possesses a £34.5 million release clause in his contract, is understood to be keen on a move to Goodison Park, potentially becoming a crucial addition to the Toffees' attacking lineup.

Barry enjoyed a productive season with Villarreal, contributing 11 goals and four assists in 38 appearances across all competitions as the Spanish side secured a fifth-place finish in La Liga, earning a spot in the Champions League. His potential arrival at Everton would serve as a direct replacement for Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who recently departed the club after his contract expired, and Armando Broja, whose loan spell from Chelsea concluded without a permanent deal.

Born in Lyon, Thierno Barry began his senior career in Belgium's second division with Beveren after leaving French club Sochaux at 19. He then moved to Swiss Super League club Basel before joining Villarreal in August 2024 for approximately £13 million. In total, the young striker has netted an impressive 61 goals and provided 16 assists in 133 appearances across his four professional clubs.

Barry has also featured prominently for the France Under-21s, making eight appearances, including five at the recent European Championships in Slovakia, where he scored his only goal for the team in a group-stage win over Georgia before their semi-final exit to Germany. His acquisition would signal a clear intent from Everton to strengthen their attacking options significantly.