Barry joined Everton last summer at a time when the club was laying the foundations for a more promising future.
Before his arrival, the Toffees had appointed several different managers, each of whom had been drawn into a fight against relegation.
The club had also received a points penalty for failing to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Given those circumstances, Moyes and the recruitment team understood that their limited finances and appeal would make it difficult to sign an established striker at the peak of his game.
As a result, there was an understanding that Barry, who moved to Merseyside after scoring 11 goals in La Liga, would need time to develop.
However, patience among sections of the fanbase began to fade halfway through the season, as the French forward had managed only one goal in his first 18 Premier League matches.
Barry found his rhythm in January and went on to deliver a respectable first season, ending the campaign with eight goals from 38 Premier League appearances.
That achievement was even more notable because four of his goals came after Everton’s leading playmaker, Jack Grealish, sustained a season-ending injury in January.
Barry produced his strongest form during the decisive closing weeks, even as several teammates lost momentum while Everton pursued qualification for European competition.
By the end of the season, Barry had scored eight times from an expected-goals figure of 8.1, while his 21.1% shot-conversion rate was only slightly below Erling Haaland’s 21.4%.
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