Newcastle striker Anthony Gordon has completed his move to Barcelona after signing a five-year deal, the Catalan giants announced on Friday.
Barca did not disclose the transfer fee when confirming the 25-year-old’s arrival but a reported £69.3 million ($93.3 million) means the Magpies could have made a significant profit on the £45m they paid Everton for his services in January 2023.
A statement on Barcelona’s official website said: “FC Barcelona and Newcastle United have reached an agreement for Anthony Gordon to become a Blaugrana for the next five seasons.”
Bayern Munich were among a series of other suitors who had courted Gordon, but it was the Spanish champions, against whom he played three times in the Champions League last season, who sealed the deal.
The frontman, 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 has been a big part of our success in recent years, and the fact that he developed into an England international during his time at Newcastle United is a testament to the hard work he invested to his development with the support from everyone at the club.
“He leaves with our best wishes, and I am confident that he will go onto 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.