From nightmare debut to Everton hero: Barry's stunning revival

The 24-year-old French striker has completed a remarkable turnaround at Everton, transforming from a player enduring a dismal debut season into the club's talismanic figure. Last month, he candidly shared a video of himself breaking down during a private training session from the previous year, highlighting the immense mental toll of registering just a single shot across his first 16 appearances for the Toffees. Fast forward to the present, and Barry has matched his entire previous season's goal tally in just 12 matches, most recently scoring against Newcastle United for the second time in five days during a hard-fought Premier League victory at St James' Park.

This scoring streak places him second only to Manchester City's Erling Haaland (13) for goals scored by Premier League players across all competitions this campaign. Having arrived from Villarreal last summer for a reported 27 million pounds, Barry has stepped up as Everton's undisputed primary senior striker, a role made even more vital following Beto's transfer to Fiorentina. His celebration on Monday night—beginning with a knee slide and finishing with energetic dance moves—contrasted sharply with the struggles of his early days on Merseyside.

Despite his recent heroics, the striker's latest goal sparked debate. Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle told BBC Sport that there was a clear foul on Fabian Schar in the build-up to the decisive strike. Pundits have also pointed out his tendency to miss clear-cut opportunities. During the match against Newcastle, Barry scuffed a shot after latching onto Jarrad Branthwaite's flick-on, eventually scoring via a two-yard tap-in that carried an expected goals (xG) value of 0.995.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher offered perspective on the young forward's playing style to Sky Sports, acknowledging his occasional wastefulness while praising his relentless drive. Barry himself expressed relief and satisfaction following the match, telling Sky Sports that his summer dedication is finally paying off on the pitch and that he is determined to enjoy his football much more than he did during his debut campaign.