What was supposed to be a press conference around lunchtime today, but things took a little longer for Newcastle, Barcelona and Anthony Gordon to get all the paperwork done.
Anthony Gordon flew to Barcelona on Thursday to undergo a medical test at the Spanish champions – and on Friday he was officially presented.
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Anthony Gordon has been unveiled as a Barcelona player after leaving Newcastle United in a deal worth more than €80 million. – A lot of money for Barcelona, but two La Liga titles in a row have given them a little looser rein. – It is also attractive to players who want to win trophies.
The 25-year-old English striker has signed for the La Liga champions until the end of the 2031 season.
The sum was agreed between the clubs after advanced talks earlier this week, amid strong interest from Bayern Munich. Gordon underwent the medical test on Thursday, and was supposed to be presented as early as Friday at 13.30.
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But the paperwork took time, and Gordon had to wait close to eight hours before he could be officially introduced as a Barca player at Camp Nou.
“Hard to wait”
“I’m very, very excited, even though it was a little hard to wait,” he said.
“I knew it was going to happen. I have been very calm at the hotel with my family and agents. There are things I don’t understand. My part was done, I was ready. There were things above me – legal things and very small details.
Gordon spoke Spanish during the presentation, explaining that he learned the language because as a child he thought he was “going to play for Barca”.
“There was a physiotherapist in Newcastle and we talked every day. I told him once that I was going to play for Barca and wanted to learn Spanish,” he added.
“I found out very late about Barcelona’s interest. But as soon as I knew Barca was a serious option, there was no doubt.
“Barca is the biggest club on the planet. These are things I dreamed of as a child.
Howe: “We understand that this is a great opportunity”
He spent three and a half years at Newcastle after his transfer from Everton in January 2023. There he played 152 games, and was the season’s top scorer for the Magpies with 17 goals in all competitions.
Gordon travels with the England squad to the United States on Monday for a training camp before the World Cup, which starts on June 11.
He will thus become a compatriot with Marcus Rashford at Barca – but the Spanish club have not yet exercised the option to make the 28-year-old attacker’s loan transfer from Manchester United permanent for £26 million.
Newcastle were in a strong negotiating position for Gordon, as he still had four years left on his contract at St James’ Park.
He was on the bench for the last four Premier League games under head coach Eddie Howe, but fans briefly chanted his name after the 2-0 loss to Fulham on the last matchday.
“While we are disappointed to lose Anthony, we understand that this is a great opportunity for him,” Howe told the club’s website.
“He leaves with our best wishes, and I am confident that he will be a success – both with Barcelona and with the national team in this year’s World Cup.
