Everton are closing in on the signing of France Under-21 striker Thierno Barry from La Liga side Villarreal – but what would he bring to Goodison Park, and how does he compare to outgoing number nine Dominic Calvert-Lewin?
Calvert-Lewin’s contract expired on Monday after nine years at the club in which he scored 71 goals in 273 games. The 28-year-old experienced highs and lows at Everton, enjoying fine 2019-2020 and 2020-21 seasons that earned him a place in England’s European Championships squad, but at other times struggling with form and fitness.
In the two campaigns mentioned he scored 13 and 16 league goals respectively but did not reach double figures in any other single Premier League season.
Meanwhile, last season 22-year-old Barry scored 11 La Liga goals to help Villarreal finish fifth and achieve their highest points tally in 17 years, qualifying for the Champions League.
He was part of an elite group of players aged under 23 to score 10 or more goals in Europe’s top five leagues, alongside the likes of Leipzig’s in-demand Benjamin Sesko, PSG’s Bradley Barcola and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike.
One area the Toffees will be hoping Barry is an improvement on Calvert-Lewin in is aerially, especially in David Moyes’ first full season back in charge with the Scotsman favouring a playing style that features lots of crosses into the box.
Everton ranked seventh for open-play crosses in last season’s Premier League, although they struggled to convert crosses into goals, scoring just three times from such situations – the fewest of any club other than Chelsea (2).
Barry’s height makes him a huge threat in the air and he ranked second of all forwards in Europe’s major leagues – and top of anyone in La Liga – for aerial duel success in 2024-25 for players who have competed in a minimum of 100 aerial duels.
He won 66.7% of his 153 challenges, while Calvert-Lewin has never won above 53.7% [in the 2020-21 season] in the Premier League.
Beto’s surge of form after Moyes’ return last season aside, Everton have lacked a reliable goalscorer who can offer a physical presence and threat.
If he can stay fit, Barry has the characteristics to thrive in the Premier League and endear himself to Toffees fans in the same way Calvert-Lewin did at the beginning of the 2020s.