One of Everton’s marquee summer signings in 2025 was young centre-forward Thierno Barry. The Frenchman joined from Villarreal over the summer, costing the Toffees a fee said to be £27m. He signed a four-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
David Moyes is certainly easing him into his new club, which is smart given he is just 22 years of age. Barry has played just 143 minutes so far, and although he hasn’t scored, his record for the Yellow Submarine last season suggests he has top potential. He bagged 11 goals and assisted four in 35 La Liga games.
Thierno-Barry
Eventually, it seems as though the plan is for Barry to replace Everton’s current first-choice striker, Beto.
Beto’s season so far
The man leading the line this season has tended to be Guinea-Bissau international Beto. The 27-year-old has struggled to find his best form on Merseyside, but this term he’s shown a glimpse of what he can do at his best.
Beto
That is best highlighted by the fact he’s already scored this season, both in the Carabao Cup against Mansfield and in the Premier League.
That strike in the top flight came in the 3-2 win away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the former Udinese star opening the scoring thanks to a Jack Grealish assist.
Yet, the striker has not really shown his best form in an Everton shirt, across his time for the club. In 75 appearances since moving to Merseyside in 2023, he’s only found the back of the net 17 times.
Beto’s average of 0.22 goals per game certainly leaves a lot to be desired. There are flashes of brilliance, and he scored eight Premier League goals in 30 games last season, but he has yet to prove himself a reliable and consistent asset.
Beto-Everton
It may well be the case that Everton look at bringing through a new striker soon enough. Barry is waiting in the wings, and they also have someone out on loan who could be a perfect long-term option.
Everton’s on-loan Beto replacement
The Toffees have certainly got some good options in their academy. Young playmaker Harrison Armstrong is someone who has been in and around the first team and grabbed two assists in the cup clash with Masfield.
Another player who could one day break through and become the eventual Beto replacement is Martin Sherif. The 19-year-old is currently out on loan at League One club Rotherham United and has made a strong start despite picking up an injury.
Everton’s Martin Sherif
The Dutchman, who has played for the Netherlands at under-17 level, has featured three times for the Millers this term. He’s already bagged one goal, scoring on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Wigan Athletic, a game in which he also played 90 minutes.
His stats from that game against Wigan show the kind of quality that the young striker has. Although he only had 23 touches, he made them count, registering two shots on target. Off the ball, he won five duels, showing an impressive work rate.
Sherif stats vs. Wigan
Stat
Number
Touches
23
Pass accuracy
83%
Key passes
1
Shots on target
2
Goals
1
Duels won
5
Stats from Sofascore
The 19-year-old, described as a “nuisance” of a striker by journalist Lewis Bower, has featured on the bench for the Toffees. Although he is yet to make his debut, Sherif has featured in the matchday squad nine times.
Martin Sherif
As for his record for the academy sides on Merseyside, the numbers are yet more evidence that he could become a top striker.
In the under-18s Premier League, he’s scored 21 times in just 40 appearances, and has five Premier League 2 goals.
It remains to be seen just how much longer Beto can keep his place in the starting lineup at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. One thing is for sure, with Barry an option for Moyes and Sherif gaining valuable loan experience, the competition for places is exciting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
