Spanish-speaking forward says he has “always wanted Barca” following €80m transfer
Barcelona have completed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on a five-year contract in a deal understood to be worth an initial €70m (£69.3m), with add-ons potentially taking the fee beyond €80m.
The England forward was unveiled on Friday night after a prolonged delay caused by what he described as “legal things”, becoming Barcelona’s latest major attacking addition under Hansi Flick. The 25-year-old has signed until June 2031.
“FC Barcelona and Newcastle United have reached an agreement for Anthony Gordon to become a blaugrana for the next five seasons,” the Spanish champions said in a statement. Newcastle confirmed Gordon had departed for a “significant undisclosed fee”.
Barcelona moved quickly to secure Gordon this week amid interest from Bayern Munich and Liverpool, with the winger flying to Catalonia on Thursday to complete a medical after the clubs reached an agreement. He becomes part of a plan to reshape Barca’s forward line as Flick prepares for the departure of Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract next summer.
Gordon, who joined Newcastle from Everton for £40m in January 2023, leaves St James’ Park after scoring 39 goals in 152 appearances. He established himself as one of the Premier League’s most effective wide forwards during Newcastle’s return to the Champions League and has now secured the move he said he had imagined since childhood.
“This is the biggest club on the planet,” Gordon said during his presentation. “It’s the stuff I dreamed of when I was a child. I know it comes with a lot of responsibility, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
The winger impressed during his first appearance before the media by answering several questions in Spanish, explaining he had been learning the language for years because he believed he would eventually play for Barcelona.
“As a kid I believed I would play for Barca, believe it or not,” Gordon said. “I have a physio and we speak every day and I said one day I would play there.”
Gordon said he had little hesitation once Barcelona emerged as a concrete option. “As soon as I knew Barcelona was a serious option, there was never any question,” he said. “I always wanted Barca.”
He will add pace and directness to a frontline that already includes Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, with Flick expected to use him primarily from the left but also through the centre. Barcelona are continuing their search for another forward, with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez among their targets, while the club are still considering whether to retain Marcus Rashford following his loan spell from Manchester United.
Gordon also revealed he had already spoken with Flick and said the conversation had increased his enthusiasm for the move. “He seems like a very nice person, an amazing manager,” Gordon said. “I hope we can win many things together.”
