Bombshell: The Exit That Had Newcastle Fans Talking Suddenly Makes Perfect Sense After This Shocking Revelation

Newcastle United may feel fortunate to have completed the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona before the 2026 World Cup, following the winger’s underwhelming display against Ghana.

The 25-year-old completed his £69.3million move to the Catalan giants at the end of May, becoming one of Newcastle’s biggest-ever sales. Despite showing flashes of quality during the 2025-26 campaign, particularly in the Champions League, Gordon struggled to consistently deliver in domestic competition.

His inconsistency was highlighted on the world stage during England’s goalless draw with Ghana on Tuesday, where he found it difficult to influence proceedings and attracted criticism from sections of the the media.

On the face of it, Newcastle’s decision to sell Gordon before the World Cup appeared risky, with a strong tournament potentially capable of increasing his market value further. However, after his difficult outing against Ghana, the timing of the transfer now appears more understandable.

Gordon struggled to create sustained attacking threat and was often frustrated by Ghana’s disciplined defensive display before eventually being substituted.

The English media were also unimpressed, with The Guardian awarding the winger a 4/10 rating, writing: “Clever dummy early on to start a move, but little else of substance. Place must be seriously under pressure.”

While one performance is unlikely to significantly impact Gordon’s overall market value, Newcastle may nevertheless feel satisfied that they secured a substantial fee when they did.

According to FotMob, Gordon still produced some positive statistics, creating two chances, registering one shot on target, completing 91 per cent of his passes, completing two dribbles and winning six ground duels.

However, he was also dispossessed twice, failed to deliver an accurate cross and committed one foul.

Ahead of England’s final group-stage fixture against Panama, Gordon’s place in the starting XI could now come under increased scrutiny as Thomas Tuchel weighs his options.