Everton have wrapped up the signing of French U-21 striker Thierno Barry from Villarreal for a reported £27 million, strengthening their forward line ahead of the new campaign.
Thierno Barry, 22, arrives on a four-year deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until June 2029.
Barry, who bagged 11 goals and four assists across 38 appearances for Villarreal last season, had a £34.5 million release clause in his contract.
However, Everton’s negotiating team managed to secure a reduced deal for the Lyon-born talent.
Barry told Evertontv, “I’m very happy. “It’s very exciting to be here. Everton is a big club in the Premier League. They have a good history and good players have played here, like Wayne Rooney and Romelu Lukaku. When I was young, I liked to watch these players, now I want to do like these players who have gone before.”
The Toffees moved swiftly after Dominic Calvert-Lewin‘s contract expired, and with Armando Broja’s loan from Chelsea not being renewed, the club was in dire need of fresh firepower.
Barry’s journey to Merseyside has been unconventional. After leaving Sochaux at 19, he ventured through Belgium’s second division with Beveren and then to Switzerland with Basel, before Villarreal snapped him up for £13 million just a year ago.
Meanwhile, in North London, Arsenal’s summer transfer push has hit turbulence. The long-anticipated deal for Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyökeres is on the brink of collapse.
Initial optimism surrounding the Swedish forward has been dulled by a breakdown in negotiations, with Sporting digging in their heels over the transfer fee.
Gyökeres believes a gentleman’s agreement should allow him to leave for €60 million plus €10 million in bonuses, but the Portuguese club appears unmoved.
Arsenal had tabled a structured deal worth €65m plus €15m in performance-related add-ons, but Sporting are demanding a straight €70m upfront.
Talks have reportedly stalled since the weekend, and Arsenal’s delegation has returned to London without an agreement in place. With time ticking, the club is reportedly reassessing its options.
Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford has reportedly told Barcelona he will only entertain a move if guaranteed a pivotal role in Hansi Flick’s plans.
The 27-year-old, currently weighing up his future at Manchester United, is keen to cement his place in England’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.
According to El Nacional, Rashford would turn down a transfer to the Catalan giants if reduced to a rotation player. With Barca’s top target Nico Williams no longer in the picture, Rashford has emerged as a serious alternative, but he may still have to contend with competition from Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, who is also on the radar of Bayern Munich.
In another North London twist, Arsenal have formally approached Chelsea over the potential signing of Noni Madueke. The Gunners had reportedly already agreed personal terms with the 23-year-old last week and have now made their interest official.
Chelsea are said to value the winger at around £50 million. Madueke, who joined the Blues from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023, has made 92 appearances and scored 20 goals. He featured in their Club World Cup semi-final win over Fluminense, coming off the bench in a 2-0 victory.
Arsenal, keen to add depth and dynamism to their attacking options, are also keeping tabs on Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. The pursuit of Gyökeres might have stalled, but the Gunners’ summer shopping list is far from short.
The post Transfer: Everton Sign Thierno Barry, Arsenal’s Gyökeres Move Stalls, Rashford Sets Terms For Barca Switch appeared first on Naija News.