Anthony Gordon has spoken publicly for the first time about his decision to join Barcelona this summer, confirming he turned down interest from Bayern Munich, Liverpool and several other top clubs to make the move to the Camp Nou. The 24-year-old England winger completed a GBP 69 million transfer from Newcastle United last month and has already made an impression in pre-season training under Hansi Flick.
Why Barcelona?
Speaking to The Athletic and Goal.com, Gordon was clear about his reasoning. He said the ambition of the project, Flick's style of play, and the chance to work alongside players like Lamine Yamal and Pedri made the decision straightforward once Barcelona made their interest concrete. He described turning down Liverpool as particularly difficult given his roots in the north-west of England, but said the chance to play in La Liga and win trophies at the highest level was something he could not pass up.
The Bayern Factor
Bayern Munich had reportedly tabled a GBP 60 million bid earlier in the summer which Newcastle rejected before Barcelona came in with a higher offer and personal terms that Gordon found more appealing. A source close to the player told Sky Sports that Gordon felt Barcelona's tactical identity was a better fit for how he wants to develop as a winger.
World Cup Timing
Gordon's performances for England at the 2026 World Cup accelerated interest significantly. He delivered two goals and three assists in the group stages and knockouts, catching the eye of clubs across Europe before England's semi-final exit. The Barcelona move was finalised shortly after England returned from the US.
Newcastle's Stance
Newcastle were reluctant sellers but accepted the GBP 69m package after Gordon made his wish to leave clear. The funds will go directly into Eddie Howe's transfer budget, with a new wide attacker and a central midfielder among the priorities before the window closes on September 1.
Source: The Athletic, Sky Sports, Goal.com. Image: Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0.
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