Thierno Barry has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround at Everton, matching his goal tally from last season in just 12 appearances. The 24-year-old scored eight goals in 41 matches during his debut campaign, a total he has already reached this term. His latest effort came during a victory at St James’ Park against Newcastle on Monday, marking his second goal against them in five days. Which started with a knee slide and ended with dance moves, that moment was contrasted by his celebration on Monday night.
Currently, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland with 13 goals has netted more across all competitions among Premier League players than Barry. Since his arrival from Villarreal for £27m last summer, the Frenchman has become Everton’s sole recognized senior striker following Beto’s move to Fiorentina, making him a critical part of the squad.
This current run is a stark contrast to his arrival on Merseyside.
Barry struggled significantly early on, managing only a single shot throughout his opening 16 games. The forward recently shared a video showing his emotional struggle during a private training session last season, but he credits his summer preparation for his recent success. “I was working a lot during the summer and now we can see the result,” Barry noted, adding that he is happy to contribute to the team and is finally enjoying his performances. Having just one shot across his first 16 Everton games, and last month posted a video of himself breaking down during a private training session last season, the Frenchman had a rough start to life on Merseyside.
However, the forward’s latest goal sparked debate. Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle contested the strike, claiming there was a clear foul on defender Fabian Schar during the build-up. Despite the controversy, Barry continues to emulate the impact of past Everton strikers like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku, proving his value to the club on the pitch. By scoring once again Barry highlighted why Everton paid £27m for a striker who grew up watching Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku score for the Toffees.
