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Anthony Gordon has signed for Barcelona from Newcastle in a five-year deal believed to be worth £69.3m. Both clubs announced the move on Friday night, with the Spanish giants saying in a statement that the 25-year-old winger will sign for “the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031”.
“FC Barcelona and Newcastle United have reached an agreement for Anthony Gordon to become a blaugrana for the next five seasons,” Barcelona added.
“Newcastle United can confirm that Anthony Gordon has signed for La Liga champions Barcelona for a significant undisclosed fee,” the Premier League club said. He had swapped Everton for the north-east of England in a £40m January 2023 move.
Standing in a dark suit with sunglasses hanging from the breast pocket, Gordon answered some of the questions in Spanish, leaving a good impression on a first day said he had been excited about since he was three years old.
“There is a burning fire in my belly to win here,” he said. “[I bring] my intensity, work rate, technical ability. I like to score goals, assist, and help the team win games.”
Gordon arrived at the Camp Nou in a grey car, rolling up at the offices on Aristide Maillol street, but confirmation kept getting put back throughout the day. It was 9.17pm when the official announcement finally dropped, a couple more minutes for Newcastle to say a public goodbye and a couple more for Gordon to appear, blinking in the lights. Asked if he had suffered, he replied: “No, I knew it would happen. I was very calm in the hotel, waiting for it to happen.
“I can’t explain [the delay], I don’t know. It was stuff I don’t understand. My part was done. It was stuff above me, I think legal things: very small things.” He then segued into Spanish to add: “I’m ready for this challenge; I am very conscious of the history of this club and the incredible players who have worn this shirt. I am very proud. It is a dream come true to be part of the history of this club.”
That was not the last time Gordon slipped into Spanish and although a subsequent question saw him start, stop and say: “No, sorry, in Spanish I don’t think I can answer this one,” he was asked why he spoke the language already. “As a kid I believed I would play for Barcelona, believe it or not,” he replied. “I have a physio and we speak every day and I said one day I would play there, so that’s why.” Then, back into Spanish again, he said: “You don’t sign for a club like this every day so I am very excited.”
What exactly was it that made you sign for them, he was asked. “Everything,” he said.
Gordon claimed that he had found out “very late” about the offer, “but as soon as I knew Barcelona was a serious option, there was never any question. I always wanted Barça. It’s the biggest club on the planet. It’s the stuff I dreamed of when I was a child. To play for Barcelona is the biggest dream possible. I know it comes with a lot of responsibility but I am ready for the challenge. This shirt always has a lot of weight but I am excited.” He described Hansi Flick, with whom he had spoken, as a manager who “seems like a very nice person” and the players as the best in the world.
After Newcastle had faced Barcelona in the Champions League, Gordon had said he had never seen a team play so well and he was reminded of that here, and asked if he was excited to play with Lamine Yamal of whom he got an all-too-fleeting glimpse that night. “I was excited to play for Barcelona when I was three,” he said. “To play with Lamine and the rest is exciting. At St James’ Park we couldn’t touch the ball. Frenkie [de Jong] and Pedri ruined our plans.”
To close, Gordon stood in front of a billboard carrying the slogan “Catch me if you can”, where he posed with a shirt that had 2031 on the back – the end of his contract, not his number – and then he made way. “Hopefully I can do it all in Spanish next time, thanks,” he said.
