Few Everton players have endured a Premier League beginning as difficult as that of Thierno Barry.
But after 15 top-flight games without a maiden goal for the big-money summer signing from Villarreal, he now has two in his last four.
Insert London bus-based pun here.
Opening his Everton account in the 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the beginning of December, Thierno Barry popped up to haunt former Toffees boss Sean Dyche once again in their final outing of 2025.
Name some things more likely than Thierno Barry scoring 11+ goals this season… 😬
He'd need some second half to the term to reach those numbers…
Barry could not help rubbing it in, either. He may be new to English football, but the ex-La Liga frontman appears to have already found his favourite opponents.
On the latest edition of the Rest is Football podcast, meanwhile, Micah Richards could not speak highly enough of a striker he has a lot of love for, with Barry finally starting to show why the Toffees spent so much to bring him to Merseyside in the first place.
Micah Richards was ‘buzzing’ for Everton striker Thierno Barry
Even during that barren spell, there was no questioning his effort.
David Moyes hopes the dam has been broken now, so to speak, as the France Under-21 international looks to prove he has the ruthlessness to back up his prodigious work-ethic.
A work-ethic highlighted by former Manchester City, Aston Villa and England defender Richards ahead of Saturday’s clash with Brentford.
“I was buzzing for Barry,” Richards says, Everton’s number eleven sealing a 2-0 win over 17th place Nottingham Forest following James Garner’s first-half opener.
“That’s a story from the game I took. Obviously, he’s found it very difficult, him and [fellow striker] Beto. So [it is big for him]. I think he’s on his second Premier League goal but he works ever so hard for the team.
“And yeah, he could see it in his celebration, his smile after. He was absolutely delighted.”
By his own admission, the manager was as relieved as Barry himself when Forest were put to the sword. The striker’s second goal against Dyche’s relegation threatened team in the space of a month, and a goal which cemented Everton’s place in the top half of the table.
“You should see my relief when he scored!” Moyes said post-match. “He’s getting better, doing a lot of things we like.
“We hope he can keep getting the goals.”
Are you making any changes from the side that beat Forest on Tuesday? 😬
Jack Grealish surely comes back into the XI! 💥
Barry is learning from Romelu Lukaku as Toffees career clicks into gear
Barry is open about his hopes of emulating Romelu Lukaku in Everton blue.
The now-Napoli forward plundered 15 top-flight goals during his debut season at Goodison Park under Roberto Martinez. So it goes without saying that Barry has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as the club’s most prolific-ever Premier League marksman.
That determination, that never-say-die spirit, that sheer desire to hone those rough edges, though, stands him in very good stead.
“I’m very happy. When I woke up [on the morning of the Forest game], I felt I could score again. I’m very happy for the goal and I’m also very happy to get the win,” Barry told the club’s official website.
“Every week, after our games, I watch Premier League goals and I also watch Lukaku’s goals. I try to do it like him. Maybe it’s a bit difficult because he did very good things here, but I try to do my best.”
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
