The Everton academy graduate was speaking as he left Newcastle United in very different circumstances to those he left the Blues in
Anthony Gordon during his presentation as a new player of FC Barcelona. Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images
Anthony Gordon during his presentation as a new player of FC Barcelona. Photo By Javier Borrego/Europa Press via Getty Images
View Image
Anthony Gordon has broached his “controversial” exit from Everton and the advice he was given about it on the streets of Newcastle.
The 25-year-old moved to Newcastle United in January 2023 during a tumultuous month that included the departure of Blues manager Frank Lampard and a failure to sign anyone despite an insistence from owner Farhad Moshiri the club would strengthen.
Instead, Gordon’s departure in a deal worth up to £45m was the only piece of business, and one that ended in acrimony when a deal was struck after he handed in a transfer request.
Everton marked Gordon’s exit with a pointed, short statement that Gordon later claimed had left him hurt given the long rise he had enjoyed with the club.
The deal, it later emerged, was vital to Everton’s finances and severely restricted the amount by which Everton overspent under the Premier League regulations that saw them deducted eight points for two breaches.
For Gordon, it was a case of looking forward, he said in an interview with Newcastle United recorded before his move to Barcelona was confirmed.
He said, as quoted by the Evening Chronicle: "The way I arrived here was a bit controversial but nobody in Newcastle cared about that. Everybody I saw in the street was like: 'Don't worry, you will be fine and successful'.”
Gordon’s relationship with his former club has failed to improve, with the England international taking part in dressing room celebrations after a win at Goodison Park with his new club and stepping up to take a penalty in the hope of scoring in front of the Gwladys Street in the final season at the Grand Old Lady. Jordan Pickford saved his effort.
Gordon’s move to Spain has been far more cordial - and does contain a significant upside for Everton.
The £69.3m sale means Everton will earn at least £3.6m through the 15% clause on any profit made by the Magpies, as revealed by the ECHO in April.