Everton striker Thierno Barry has said he was relieved that his family were not at home when his house in Greater Manchester was burgled while he played in a Carabao Cup match against Newcastle United on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Frenchman's home in the Bowdon area of Trafford was targeted while he played in Everton's 3-1 victory over Newcastle, in which he scored the winning goal. He posted on Instagram that “things could have been much worse” had his partner and toddler not been in the stands at the Hill Dickinson stadium.
Barry said he would not put his family "at risk" in the future by posting about his life on social media. "Maybe I've been too open about my family's life and mine, potentially putting them at risk, all just to show my lifestyle and inspire others through my journey and success, hoping to motivate them to do the same," he wrote.
"My childhood was never easy, but I've always believed that when you give yourself the best possible chances, there is always hope. Unfortunately, in life, there are people and things beyond our control."
The father-of-one added: "This has been a lesson for me. The most important thing in life is to look after and protect the people you love. That's what truly matters. Everything else is just materialistic."
A Greater Manchester Police spokeswoman said officers were investigating reports of a burglary on Thursday evening and that no arrests had been made at this stage.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The incident highlights the vulnerability of high-profile athletes and their families to burglaries during public events.
- Barry's decision to limit social media sharing reflects a growing concern among public figures about privacy and security.
- The case may prompt other sports stars to review their own personal security and online presence.
Background
Thierno Barry joined Everton in the summer of 2024 from FC Basel. He has become a key player for the club, and Thursday's match saw him score the third goal in a 3-1 win that sent Everton to the Carabao Cup fifth round. Burglaries of footballers' homes during matches have occurred previously, including incidents involving Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes and model Maya Jama.
Key Perspectives
Thierno Barry: expressed relief that his family was safe and said he had learned a lesson about protecting loved ones, calling material things secondary.
Greater Manchester Police: said officers were investigating the burglary and enquiries were ongoing, with no arrests made.
What to Watch
- Any further updates from Greater Manchester Police on arrests or progress in the investigation.
- Whether Barry or other footballers take visible steps to reduce their social media footprint or increase home security.
- Potential for clubs to offer additional support or security guidance to players.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBarry was relieved that his family were not at home when his house was burgled while he played against Newcastle on Thursday.BBC News: “Everton striker Thierno Barry has said he was relieved that his family were not at home when it was burgled while he played in a cup match. His home in Greater Manchester was targeted while he was playing for Everton against Newcastle United in a Carabao Cup tie at the Hill Dickinson stadium on Thursday.”
- SupportedBarry posted on Instagram that “things could have been much worse”.BBC News: “The Frenchman, 24, posted on Instagram "things could have been much worse" had his partner and toddler not been in the stands.”
- SupportedBarry is a Frenchman and is 24 years old.BBC News: “The Frenchman, 24, posted on Instagram”
- SupportedBarry’s home in the Bowdon area of Trafford was targeted during Everton’s 3-1 win over Newcastle, and he scored the winning goal.BBC News: “A GMP spokeswoman said that "officers are currently investigating reports of a burglary on Thursday evening" at "an address in the Bowdon area of Trafford". [...] Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 to progress to the fifth round, with Barry scoring the winning goal.”
- SupportedBarry’s partner and toddler were in the stands at the Hill Dickinson stadium during the match.BBC News: “The Frenchman, 24, posted on Instagram "things could have been much worse" had his partner and toddler not been in the stands.”
- SupportedBarry said he would not put his family “at risk” in future by posting about his life on social media.BBC News: “Barry posted that he would not put his family "at risk" in the future by posting about his life on social media.”
- SupportedBarry wrote, “Maybe I've been too open about my family's life and mine, potentially putting them at risk, all just to show my lifestyle and inspire others through my journey and success, hoping to motivate them to do the same.”BBC News: “He said: "Maybe I've been too open about my family's life and mine, potentially putting them at risk, all just to show my lifestyle and inspire others through my journey and success, hoping to motivate them to do the same.”
- SupportedBarry wrote, “My childhood was never easy, but I've always believed that when you give yourself the best possible chances, there is always hope. Unfortunately, in life, there are people and things beyond our control.”BBC News: “"My childhood was never easy, but I've always believed that when you give yourself the best possible chances, there is always hope. "Unfortunately, in life, there are people and things beyond our control."”
- SupportedBarry, described as a father-of-one, said the burglary had taught him to protect the people he loves and that material things are less important.BBC News: “The father-of-one added: "This has been a lesson for me. "The most important thing in life is to look after and protect the people you love. "That's what truly matters. Everything else is just materialistic."”
- SupportedGreater Manchester Police said officers were investigating reports of a burglary on Thursday evening and that no arrests had been made at that stage.BBC News: “A GMP spokeswoman said that "officers are currently investigating reports of a burglary on Thursday evening" at "an address in the Bowdon area of Trafford". She added: "No arrests have been made at this stage, and enquiries are ongoing."”