Anthony Gordon on his fast start at Barcelona and the goal he still needs

Anthony Gordon has become one of the most exciting new faces at FC Barcelona within a matter of weeks. The English winger, born on 24 February 2001 — the same date as Hansi Flick — arrived from Newcastle United as the first signing of the 2026-2027 project and has needed just eight appearances to win over a fanbase that already chants his name.

• Anthony Gordon was Barcelona's first signing for the 2026-2027 season, joining from Newcastle United.
• The winger has recorded five assists in his first eight matches for the club.
• He admits he is still looking for his first goal but insists the goals will come.
• He highlights the humility of the dressing room and the help of teammates such as Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo.
• He names Pep Guardiola's Barcelona and Luis Suárez among his biggest influences.

The pending goal that Anthony Gordon wants to solve

Gordon's start at Barcelona has been impressive in terms of creation, but he has not yet been able to celebrate a goal. The Englishman has delivered five assists in his first eight appearances and accepts that scoring is the unfinished business on his early record. "I have not had many chances to score yet. In fact, it is something that has happened throughout my career. At every club and every stage I have needed a little time before starting to score regularly. But I am convinced I will score a lot of goals," he says in an interview with Barça magazine.

The forward does not see that lack of finishing as a concern. If anything, his experience tells him that once the first one goes in, the rest will follow. In the meantime, his influence on Barcelona's attacking play is measured in assists and in how easily he has fitted into Hansi Flick's system.

The instant connection with Barcelona supporters

Gordon admits he has been surprised by how quickly he has won the affection of the stands. "These fans have admired Messi, Luis Suárez, Ronaldinho and so many of the best players in history. I did not expect to feel so appreciated from the first moment. People value seeing you give everything for the team. Maybe they have also been surprised by my footballing qualities," he explains.

Something similar happened to him at Newcastle, where he was initially seen only as a fast, aggressive player before other sides of his game came to light. That same ability to expand his repertoire is what he is now showing at Barcelona.

A world-class dressing room and a warm welcome

Gordon's adaptation would not have been so quick without the support of his teammates. The England international names some of those who made the transition easier: "I would not want to leave anyone out, but Eric Garcia has helped me a lot because he speaks perfect English. I understand a little Spanish, but when they speak very quickly or among themselves it is harder for me to follow. Dani Olmo has also helped me a lot."

The winger underlines the contrast between the size of the club and the modesty with which everyone works on a daily basis. "It is the best club in the world, with some of the best players, but everyone is very humble. We are very ambitious and we want to win everything, but you will never hear anyone talk more than they should. You will see people training, enjoying themselves and working together to improve every day," he says.

The Barcelona Gordon always dreamed of

For Gordon, wearing the Barcelona shirt was an old dream. "When I signed for Barça I thought it could not be true, because it was something I had dreamed of since I was very young. Barça is the best club in the world," he recalls. His clearest reference belongs to a specific era: "The best Barça I have ever seen is Pep Guardiola's team, the one that won the Champions League with players like Xavi and Iniesta."

When asked to pick a favourite player from the club's history, he sets aside Leo Messi and chooses Luis Suárez. As for the current side, Gordon talks about control, tiki-taka and match dominance, with an important nuance: "I think it has evolved a little now because we also press with a lot of intensity, but the foundations remain the same: possession and the desire to make the opponent touch the ball as little as possible. That is what Barça represents for me."

Life in Barcelona and the impact of Hansi Flick

Off the pitch, Gordon is also enjoying his new life. "Barcelona has a special charm and a very family-friendly atmosphere. The people are very kind," he says. Language is his biggest daily challenge: he tries to learn and use both Spanish and Catalan, although he admits that switching from English to both languages is complicated. Among his first phrases in Catalan are "Molt bé", "Com va?", "Jo em dic Anthony" and "Estic molt feliç."

Asked which coach has left the biggest mark on his career, the Englishman does not hesitate: "Hansi Flick. He has given me the chance to play on an extraordinary stage, to connect with the fans and to live everything I had always dreamed of." Even so, he keeps a fond memory of Eddie Howe, Frank Lampard and Rafa Benítez, the managers who accompanied him in earlier stages of his career.