Anthony Gordon signs five-year deal with Barcelona
Barcelona signed the forward for a reported £69.3million
Last updated 9 hours ago
Anthony Gordon described his move to Barcelona as “a dream come true” after signing a five-year contract with the Spanish champions.
The 25-year-old England forward, who has joined from Newcastle on a deal lasting until 2031, was finally introduced to the media on the club’s YouTube channel on Friday evening.
Barca did not disclose the transfer fee when confirming his arrival, but a reported £69.3million means the Magpies have made a significant profit on the £45m they paid Everton for his services in January 2023.
Gordon made an instant and favourable impression on his new employers and their fanbase by answering some of his questions in Spanish.
He said: “I’m very excited and very proud to be here. It’s a dream come true. I’m part of the best team in the world, thank you.”
Bayern Munich were among a series of other suitors who had courted Gordon, but it was Barcelona, against whom he played three times in the Champions League last season, who sealed the deal.
“I always wanted Barca. Barca, like I said then, it’s the biggest club on the planet. It’s the stuff I dreamed of as a child. It really is a dream come true.”
LaLiga title winners Barca initially said on their media platforms that they would announce their new signing at 12noon on Friday, but fans were kept waiting for almost nine hours before the deal was confirmed.
When asked if he had “suffered” while waiting, Gordon added: “No, I knew it would happen.
“I’ve been very calm at the hotel, just waiting with my family, with my agents, but I was very excited, so it was kind of hard to wait.
“I can’t explain (the delay). I don’t know, it’s stuff I don’t understand. All my part was was done. I’ve been ready for two days now, so it was stuff above me, I think, legal things and the very small details.”
Gordon, who had four years remaining on a new long-term deal he signed with Newcastle in 2024, will now turn his attention to England’s World Cup finals campaign before embarking upon the latest exciting phase of his career.
Newcastle invested heavily in Gordon as head coach Eddie Howe attempted to bring new dynamism to his frontline, and his combination with Alexander Isak, who joined Liverpool in a controversial £130m switch last summer, was a key factor in their rise to prominence.
He played one of the leading roles as the Magpies ended their 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy in last season’s Carabao Cup final and booked a second Champions League campaign in three seasons.
His 10 goals in Europe this season brought his talent to a wider audience even though five of them came from the penalty spot, and now he will get the chance to show what he can do in LaLiga and beyond.
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe told the Premier League club’s website: “While we’re disappointed to lose Anthony from our squad, we understand that this is a big opportunity for him.
“He leaves with our best wishes, and I am confident that he will go on to be a success, both with Barcelona and the national team at this year’s World Cup.”
Quite where Gordon’s arrival leaves on-loan Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford remains to be seen with a permanent transfer clause in the deal which took him to the Nou Camp due to expire next month.