Anthony Gordon officially signed a five-year contract with FC Barcelona on Saturday. The Catalan giants locked down the 25-year-old winger until June 30, 2031. He immediately won over the Culers during his official unveiling, stepping up to the microphone just as the club prepares to lose veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract.
The unveiling did not go smoothly behind the scenes. The press conference suffered an eight-and-a-half-hour delay due to late legal paperwork issues. Gordon wore a smart double-breasted suit and kept his cool, according to a Sports Illustrated report verifying the 8.5-hour delay and Bayern Munich’s prior interest. He brushed off the wait, telling the media he had been “ready for two days” while sitting in his hotel with his family.
Gordon backed up his confidence with a proven track record, as NBC Sports confirmed the $93 million transfer fee and his prolific 10-goal Champions League campaign. He finished last season as Newcastle United’s top scorer with 17 goals across all competitions. Gordon used his opening remarks to call Barcelona “the biggest club on the planet” and told the crowd he is ready for the responsibility of the iconic shirt.
The $93 million fee ranks as the second-largest player sale in Newcastle United history. It trails only the £125 million Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak last summer. Everton is also set to receive a 15% sell-on profit clause from the move.
Newcastle is already searching for a replacement in the attack, according to PunchNG reporting on Newcastle’s interest in Ez Abde and Lewandowski’s impending departure. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, is forced back to the drawing board after believing they had agreed to terms with Gordon last week.