Everton's Strikers Under the Spotlight: A Season Review for 2025-26

As the 2025-26 football season comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the performance of Everton's strikers. This review focuses on how the forwards fared throughout the campaign, utilizing data from FotMob.

The No.9 jersey at Everton carries a rich history, adorned by legendary players such as Dixie Dean and Romelu Lukaku, who set high expectations for those that follow. Despite the evolving nature of shirt numbers in modern football, the significance of the No.9 remains strong among Everton supporters, who have longed for a prolific scorer since Lukaku's departure. This season, the goal-scoring duties were primarily handled by Beto and newcomer Thierno Barry, with manager David Moyes frequently rotating them in the starting position. With the team netting 47 goals over 38 matches, it raises the question: how did our forwards perform?

Beto, a 28-year-old from Guinea-Bissau, made 37 appearances, totaling 1,565 minutes on the pitch. He scored nine goals, with eight of those coming in league matches. Renowned for his dedication and enthusiasm, Beto has become a fan favorite. Nevertheless, his nine goals are unlikely to cement his reputation as the primary scoring threat for a club aiming for European competition. After a slow start to the season, which included early goals against Mansfield Town and Wolves, Beto found his form later on, particularly with standout performances against Newcastle and Crystal Palace. His most impressive outing was a two-goal display against Chelsea in March, showcasing his potential. However, it is worth noting that he completed only two full matches, and the team’s lack of attacking support may have limited his impact. Grade: C (10/10 for effort, but still searching for consistency as a leading scorer.)

Thierno Barry, at just 23 years old, had a challenging debut season after joining from Villarreal, appearing in 38 matches for a total of 1,915 minutes. He managed to score eight goals but faced scrutiny regarding his commitment and attitude on the field. The young French striker has been candid about his struggles adapting to English football, even facing unwarranted online criticism. While he has a natural finishing ability, it took him until December to find the net for the first time, having two goals ruled out by VAR prior to that. Barry did experience a brief surge in form, scoring three times in January alone, including a crucial goal at Villa Park. However, his performance waned later in the season, although a late brace against Manchester City suggested he may still have untapped potential. Grade: D (Possesses talent but often fell short in terms of attitude.)