Everton are close to ending their striker search with Villarreal’s Thierno Barry expected to fly into Merseyside for a medical before completing a £27m deal.
The formalities are not completed yet, but the move is progressing with manager David Moyes ready to clinch Everton’s biggest deal of the summer so far.
Barry had a £34.5m release clause in his Villarreal contract, but Everton expect to pay a lower fee for the 22-year-old, who scored 11 goals and provided four assists in 38 games last season as the Spanish club finished fifth in La Liga to qualify for the Champions League.
He will add to Everton’s attacking resources after Dominic Calvert-Lewin left at the end of his contract.
Forward Armando Broja also exited when his loan ended, returning to Chelsea without the deal being made permanent.
Barry was born in Lyon and left French club Sochaux aged 19 to play in the Belgian second division with Beveren.
The following season he moved to Swiss Super League club Basel, before joining Villarreal in August 2024 in a deal worth about £13m.