Anthony Gordon’s £70million move to Barcelona was finally confirmed on a five-year contract until 2031 after the Nou Camp presentation was repeatedly postponed by minor paperwork issues, leaving the 25-year-old waiting in a hotel for nearly nine hours. Speakin
Anthony Gordon waited in his hotel for nearly nine hours before Barcelona finally unveiled him at the Nou Camp, but the moment he stepped onto the live stream stage it felt like the wait was meant for drama.
The 25-year-old arrived in Spain on Thursday afternoon and had already passed his medical. set to be revealed as a Barcelona player after the LaLiga champions confirmed his £70million arrival from Newcastle on a contract until 2031. Instead. the presentation that was due to begin at 12:30pm was pushed back repeatedly. and there was still no sign of it starting by 8pm. Gordon was made to wait for the announcement to land. with LaLiga champions delaying the ceremony due to minor paperwork issues and an expectation that he would be unveiled on Barcelona’s YouTube channel.
Eventually. Barcelona confirmed the arrival in a social media post with the line: “Catch him if you can.” Then. suited and booted. Gordon addressed the moment himself. He spoke in Spanish at his unveiling before adding in English: “I knew it would happen. I have been very calm at the hotel waiting with my family and agents. Very excited. It was hard to wait.”.
When asked about the delay, Gordon said: “I cannot explain (the delay). My part was done. I have been ready for today, I think it was legal things and very small details.”
In Spanish. he responded to another question. before returning to English with a story that framed the move as long planned rather than sudden. “I found out very late. But as soon as I knew Barca was a serious option, there was no question. It is the biggest club on the planet. it is something I always dreamed of. it is a dream come true.”.
Sporting director Deco met with Gordon’s representatives on Monday. and by Wednesday it had emerged that Barcelona had agreed a £70m deal that includes bonuses and a future percentage of any sale for the Magpies. With the contract signed. Gordon will now link up with his England team-mates for the Three Lions’ pre-World Cup training camp in Florida.
Barcelona have beaten out competition for the winger’s signature, with Bayern Munich and Liverpool both having shown strong interest. Gordon’s camp spoke to Barcelona and Bayern. and a framework of personal terms with the Bundesliga club had been in place for several weeks. but Bayern would not go beyond their £60m valuation.
Gordon’s own words made it clear he was aware of what came with the shirt—especially after he told the room he wanted to speak Spanish because he believed he would play for Barcelona. “I know it comes with a lot of responsibility but I am ready. The shirt holds a lot of weight and I am ready.”
After being asked to answer in Spanish, he joked that he would struggle—then spoke in the language again. He added: “I spoke with Hansi Flick, I am even more excited. he is a very nice person, a great man manager.”
He also singled out the club’s young stars. “I was excited to play for Barca when I was three. To play with Lamine (Yamal) and others is very exciting for me. They are the best players in the world, they have so much quality. When we played them at St James’ Park, we could not touch the ball.”
Gordon explained how that belief took shape long before the transfer finally happened: “I wanted to speak Spanish because I believed I would play for Barca, believe it or not. I told the physio in Newcastle that one day I would play for Barca.”
He then turned to the ambition that now drives his first season at the club. “I only won one trophy with Newcastle, so I am extremely excited to win here. It’s special to win anything with Barca, it’s the biggest club on the planet. To win here would be very special. I want to win every trophy, but to win the Champions League and No 6 would be an iconic moment.”.
After the speech, Gordon posed with a Barcelona shirt, holding up the back with his name and “2031” printed on it.
Barcelona’s signing also leaves unfinished business in the background—especially for a player already familiar with uncertainty at Catalonia. Gordon’s arrival has cast further doubt over the future of Marcus Rashford. who is on loan from Manchester United and has impressed. The only apparent obstacle to a permanent move for Rashford has been financial. making it “a surprise” that Barcelona spent heavily on Gordon.
It is understood that despite signing Gordon, Barcelona still intend to discuss a deal for Rashford with United this week, but the objective is to secure another loan rather than the permanent deal that United seek. Barcelona will have until June 15 to trigger a clause to buy Rashford for £26m.
For Liverpool, the message was blunt: Gordon preferred a move to Barcelona over the switch to Anfield. Gordon came close to joining Liverpool two years ago when a medical was set up in Germany while he was on international duty at Euro 2024. but Newcastle pulled the plug on the deal after selling Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest instead.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are set to benefit from the exit financially. Everton have a sell-on clause that will see them receive 15 per cent of the profit after Everton sold Gordon to Newcastle for £45m in 2023. The transfer is also the second most expensive sale in Newcastle’s history. behind the British record £125m fee they received from Liverpool for Alexander Isak last summer.
Before Barcelona’s announcement fully closed the chapter, Newcastle still shared its own goodbye video to Gordon on social media. In it, Gordon said: “I love every single minute of playing for Newcastle. Being a part of Newcastle. its an incredible club. one I will never forget. and I will be a fan for the rest of my life.” He added about St James’ Park: “I love St James’ Park so much. I love playing there. We’ve had so many amazing nights, so many big wins. I think the energy. the fans. it’s been so iconic for me. and i have thoroughly loved every minute playing there.”.
He thanked the people around him: “On my first day, the people took to me straight away when they didn’t have to. I will never be able to say thank you enough, but thank you very much.”
Gordon finished the season as Newcastle’s top scorer with 18 goals. but he failed to feature in the final six games of the campaign amid speculation about his future. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe previously admitted the uncertainty surrounding Gordon was keeping him out of the team toward the end of the season.
Anthony Gordon Barcelona £70m signing Nou Camp unveiling Hansi Flick Deco Newcastle Marcus Rashford Three Lions training camp Florida
Nine hours late for a guy worth £70m is kinda hilarious.
Paperwork issues?? Like of all things, that’s what stops it. I swear teams always do this big hype video and then it’s delayed forever.
Wait so he did a medical already and then still had to sit in a hotel for 9 hours? That seems like Barcelona messed up, not Gordon. Also why was it on YouTube, like just announce it in person and be done with it.
This feels like the kind of thing that happens when the paperwork is “minor” but somehow it’s never minor. I’m confused though—did they delay it for LaLiga or for Barcelona? Either way, $70m transfer and they can’t click the right button on the stream on time. Probably the league was mad about something, idk.