Anthony Gordon left Everton for Newcastle United in January 2023 and the two teams are due to face off this weekend at St James' Park
Anthony Gordon on his first return to Everton with Newcastle in 2023
Anthony Gordon on his first return to Everton with Newcastle in 2023(Image: Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images)
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When Everton take on Newcastle United this weekend, plenty will have an eye on the treatment of Anthony Gordon from the away supporters. The England international left Merseyside to join the Magpies in 2023 and the manner of the exit didn't sit well with a number of fans.
Gordon came on as a late substitute when Newcastle won at Hill Dickinson Stadium in November. He has played five times against his old employers, winning twice, though he has yet to taste victory against Everton in a match he has started.
The Liverpool-born star scored seven times in 78 Everton appearances and also provided eight assists. He has 36 goals and 28 appearances for Newcastle, having cost the club a hefty £45million transfer fee, including a first senior hat-trick against Qarabag in the recent Champions League play-off.
Everton go into Saturday's game two places and one point above Newcastle in the Premier League table. However, things looked a little different during the 2022/23 season.
Missed Training
Gordon had been a regular in the Everton first team in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons but missed training sessions as the January 2023 transfer window neared its end.
After a planned absence from the first session after the dismissal of manager Frank Lampard, he missed two further sessions with no explanation given. Gordon, who had been an unused substitute for the final game under Lampard, returned for a January 27 training session.
Anthony Gordon during his final Everton appearance in January 2023
Gordon made his final Everton appearance in January 2023(Image: Lewis Storey/Getty Images)
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At the time, Everton and Newcastle were believed to be negotiating over a fee for the player. Ultimately, he moved for less than the £60m the Merseyside club were after.
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Transfer Request
Gordon's exit was confirmed on January 29, with Everton taking the step of mentioning the player's transfer request in their statement announcing the sale. "The 21-year-old forward leaves Everton after having submitted a formal transfer request," the club said.
"Gordon joined the Club’s Academy at the age of 11 and made his senior debut as a 16-year-old in a Europa League tie in December 2017. He went on to make 78 First-Team appearances, scoring seven goals."
This left a sour taste in the mouth for some supporters. Given Gordon's long history within the Everton academy, some viewed the transfer request as a betrayal of the club which handed him his Premier League debut.
The "Brutal" Statement
Later, Gordon would admit he felt hurt by the lack of acknowledgement or thanks in Everton's statement about his departure. "It hurt me a bit, I'm not going to lie to you," he told Sky Sports.
"I thought, I'm a 22-year-old lad, I'm not going to handle every situation perfectly, but as a club with thousands of people working for them, I think the effort I gave them last year, I was a massive part in keeping the club up.
"I won Players' Player of the Year, Manager's Player of the Year. For them to not really show me any credit or thank me a little bit, it hurt me a bit, yeah."
Everton were in serious relegation danger when Gordon left but Sean Dyche kept them up thanks to a final day win at home to Bournemouth, while Gordon and Newcastle finished fourth. When the teams face off this weekend, though, they'll be much closer in league position.
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