There is a recurring theme in the career of Anthony Gordon, one that has followed him from Merseyside to Tyneside and now to Catalonia. It is the question whispered in boardrooms and shouted in pub debates: why does everyone want this player so badly? The answer, it seems, is that he makes everyone else look better, and Barcelona are now reaping the rewards of a gamble that looked, on paper, rather un-British.
The numbers have never screamed stardom. Six goal contributions in 35 games for Everton. Nine in 51 for Newcastle. Yet Chelsea offered £45m, Liverpool nearly paid £75m, and Bayern Munich circled like vultures. The sceptics, this columnist included, were baffled. Why would Barcelona baulk at £26m for Marcus Rashford, a proven Premier League scorer, yet happily part with nearly three times that sum for a winger whose end product seemed modest at best?
The answer is unfolding before our eyes in La Liga. In four league appearances, Gordon has five assists, including a back-heel of such impudence against Rayo Vallecano that it drew gasps from the Nou Camp faithful. This is a player who understands space, tempo, and the geometry of a high-pressing system. He is not a highlight reel; he is a cog, and a near-perfect one at that.
Why has Anthony Gordon impressed Hansi Flick so quickly?
Flick, a manager not given to hyperbole, has been unequivocal. “His speed, his intensity... it's all very good for us and exactly what we were looking for in him,” he said after Gordon's first start against Athletic Club. The crowd, notoriously demanding, chanted his name during a break in play. Gordon responded by tapping the crest on his chest, a gesture of belonging that his teammates reportedly told him was 'not normal' so early in a Barcelona career.
Off the pitch, he has been equally diligent. Conducting his first press conference in Spanish, and addressing fans in Catalan, has endeared him to a support base that values respect for their identity. This is a young Englishman, from a country not always known for linguistic adaptability, making a genuine effort to integrate. It is a lesson in pragmatism that would not be lost on the old school.
What is missing from Gordon's game at Barcelona?
There is, however, a flaw. “I think as a striker, from his side, you want to score goals. He has had some chances and he missed them,” Flick admitted before the Champions League clash with Feyenoord. Rested for that match, Gordon watched from the bench as his replacement, Karim Adeyemi, curled a stunning strike into the top corner. Raphinha scored twice, Lamine Yamal netted a free-kick, and Gabriel Jesus opened his account. Barcelona have scored five goals in four of their five games this season.
With Rodri anchoring a midfield of Dani Olmo and Pedri, there is a strong case that Barcelona possess the finest forward line and midfield in Europe. Yet doubts persist, and they are rooted in defence. Andreas Christensen, a fine servant, should not be the cornerstone of a back line aiming for Champions League glory, particularly when the tactic is to hold an offside trap on the halfway line. Feyenoord sliced them open repeatedly from deep. Stiffer opposition will punish such generosity.
Can Barcelona's defence hold up in the Champions League?
This is the eternal question for Flick's side. They are an entertaining, 'we'll just score more than you' outfit, but European nights against elite attacks require a certain solidity. The defence remains suspect, and the margin for error is thin. Yet Gordon, who came on for the final half hour against Feyenoord, looked entirely at ease, a footballer who knows exactly where to run and what to do in this demanding system.
He is still waiting for his first goal, but the assists keep flowing, and the fanbase is ready to applaud him at any opportunity. The £69m price tag, once a source of scepticism, now looks like a bargain in a market gone mad. Gordon is not the flashiest signing of the summer, but he may well be the most effective. In Flick's imperfect but always entertaining machine, he is the near-perfect cog.
And for those of us who doubted him, the correction is simple: stop getting Gordon wrong.
Frequently asked questions about Anthony Gordon's Barcelona move
How much did Barcelona pay for Anthony Gordon?
Barcelona paid £69m to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United in the summer of 2026.
How many assists has Anthony Gordon registered for Barcelona?
In his first four La Liga appearances, Gordon has provided five assists, including a notable back-heel for Raphinha against Rayo Vallecano.
Why did Barcelona choose Gordon over Marcus Rashford?
Barcelona were reluctant to pay £26m for Rashford but were willing to spend nearly three times that on Gordon, believing his pressing intensity and tactical intelligence were a better fit for Hansi Flick's system.
Has Anthony Gordon scored his first Barcelona goal yet?
As of the latest Champions League match against Feyenoord, Gordon is still waiting for his first goal for Barcelona, despite his impressive assist record.