Everton bolster attacking options with signing of Villarreal striker Thierno Barry

Everton have forked out 27 million pounds for the 22-year-old, who has agreed a four-year deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until June 2029.

The Toffees moved swiftly to secure the services of the France U21 international, who enjoyed a breakout season in La Liga, registering 11 goals and four assists in 38 appearances to help Villarreal finish fifth and qualify for the Champions League. Despite a 34.5m pounds release clause in his contract, Everton successfully negotiated a reduced fee for the striker, reflecting both the club's ambition and savvy in the transfer market.

Barry arrives as a direct reinforcement to a forward line that has lost key personnel, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin departing at the end of his contract and Armando Broja returning to Chelsea after a loan spell without a permanent deal being reached.

Speaking to Evertontv after completing his move, Barry expressed his enthusiasm for the new challenge:

"I'm very happy. It's very exciting to be here. Everton is a big club in the Premier League with a good history. Players like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku have played here - I watched them when I was young. Now, I want to follow in their footsteps."

Barry's journey to the Premier League has been meteoric. Born in Lyon, he began his senior career in France's fifth tier before moving to Belgian second-division side Beveren in 2022, where he scored 20 goals in 28 starts. A subsequent move to Swiss club FC Basel followed, where he finished as their top scorer with 12 goals in the 2023-24 campaign.

His form earned a switch to Villarreal in August 2024 for €15m (£13m), and he wasted no time adapting to La Liga, becoming a key figure in one of the club's most successful seasons in nearly two decades.

Still only 22, Barry offers both immediate impact and long-term potential - a player whose trajectory has pointed upward at every stage of his career so far.

His signing is a statement of intent from Everton as they look to avoid another relegation battle and re-establish themselves as a competitive force in the Premier League.