England international Anthony Gordon completes blockbuster $81.7 million move to Barcelona
· Yahoo Sports
Anthony Gordon has finalized a blockbuster transfer from Newcastle United to Barcelona in the first major move of the summer window. The England international has put pen to paper on a five-year deal at the Nou Camp.
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The agreement will see Newcastle receive a total fee of £70 million ($81.7 million), with Barcelona paying the sum in installments across the duration of Gordon's contract.
The transfer has been confirmed through official statements released by both Barca and the Magpies. The England international was presented to Barcelona supporters on Friday, having arrived at the club's headquarters hours earlier dressed in a navy suit, signing for the Spanish giants on an initial five-year deal through 2031, as per The Mirror.
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Following confirmation of the deal, Gordon acknowledged that he owed the St James' Park club a great deal. He said: "I owe this club a lot because, when I arrived, I was quite lost both in life and in football.
"The club has given me a sense of belonging and a sense of identity. It's allowed me to do what I always thought I could do. It's put me on the biggest stage and allowed me to perform for the shirt.
"Since coming to the club, I feel I've improved a lot on the pitch but this club has played a big part in the person I've become over the last three-and-a-half years.
"It was really important for me to leave this place in a good way because I've loved every single minute of being a part of Newcastle United. This is an incredible club and one that I'll never forget. I'll be a fan for the rest of my life."
The 25-year-old switched to Spanish during his initial interactions with the local media, surprising them with his command of the language. Gordon revealed it was with the Magpies' physiotherapist that he acquired the ability to speak the language.
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During his press conference, he said: "I wanted to speak Spanish because as a kid I believed I would play for Barca. There was a physio in Newcastle, and we spoke every day. I told him one day I would play for Barca and wanted to learn Spanish.
Gordon has been connected with a departure from St James' Park over the last few weeks, with Bayern Munich appearing to be leading the race. However, they were outbid by £10 million ($13.5 million) by Barcelona, with the German club unwilling to enter into a bidding war.
The deal will also see Newcastle receive a percentage of any future sale. Similar to that Everton have, which will see them earn 15 percent of the fee.
An announcement was initially delayed due to paperwork issues, according to Spanish journalist Alfredo Martinez. However, there was no danger of the deal collapsing.
Newcastle are already searching for replacements for Gordon. The i Paper reports that the club have conducted checks on Lille's Matias Fernandez-Parsom, Osasuna's Victor Munoz, Lyon's Malick Fofana, and Ez Abde of Real Betis. The latter has a release clause of £51 million ($69 million).