English footballer (born 2001)
Anthony Michael Gordon (born 24 February 2001) is an English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Newcastle United.
Early life
Gordon was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, to Nadine and Keith Gordon.[4][5] He is of Irish and Scottish descent.[6]
Club career
Everton
Gordon joined Everton as an 11-year-old[7] following his release from Liverpool.[8] On 6 December 2017, Gordon was named in Everton's first-team squad for the Europa League match away to Apollon Limassol.[9] A day later, he made his first-team debut in the fixture, coming on as an 88th-minute substitute in a 3–0 win.[10][11]
On 18 January 2020, Gordon made his Premier League debut coming on as a substitute for Bernard in a 1–1 draw with West Ham United. On 26 June, he received his first Premier League start in a 0–0 draw with Liverpool.[12] On 1 September, Gordon signed a new five-year contract with Everton.[13]
On 1 February 2021, Gordon joined Championship club Preston North End on loan for the remainder of the 2020–21 season.[12][14] Five days later, he made his debut for Preston, being included in the starting line-up for a 2–1 home league defeat by Rotherham United.[15]
On 16 December, Gordon registered his first assist for Everton, as Jarrad Branthwaite scored from his free-kick in a 1–1 draw with Chelsea.[16] On 2 January 2022, he scored his first goals for the Toffees in a 3–2 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion.[17] On 12 February, in a 3–0 win over Leeds United, he assisted Michael Keane for Everton's second goal, before scoring their third in the second half.[18] On 9 April, Gordon scored the only goal of the game in a win over Manchester United.[19] In May, he was named Young Player of the Year by the senior team and the club's supporters.[20] During the 2022 summer transfer window, he was linked with Chelsea.[21][22]
Gordon scored his first goals of the season in back-to-back matches against Brentford and Leeds United.[23][24] He was suspended for the match against Tottenham Hotspur, because of yellow card accumulation,[25] and returned in a 1–0 defeat to Newcastle United. He had a scuffle with Kieran Trippier, which led to a confrontation with Fabian Schär, resulting in both players getting booked.[26] (The three players were reunited soon after his transfer to Newcastle, which was noted for Gordon's awkward interaction with Schär.[27]) In the next match, he scored Everton's second goal in a 3–0 win over Crystal Palace.[28] Illness kept him out for three matches, and in what turned out to be his last appearance for the Toffees, he came on as a 69th minute substitute against Southampton.[29] After the match, he and Yerry Mina were harassed by a small section of Everton supporters.[30][31] During the January transfer window, Sky Sports reported that Gordon had failed to show up to training in order to force a move away from the club to fellow Premier League club Newcastle.[32] Gordon later expressed he had been disappointed by the curt manner that Everton announced his departure, and stated that he "was a massive part in keeping the club up" the previous season.[33]
Newcastle United
On 29 January 2023, Gordon joined Newcastle United on a long-term contract, having submitted a formal transfer request to previous club Everton.[34] The transfer fee reported by BBC Sport was an initial £40 million, potentially rising to £45 million in add-ons.[35] He made his debut on 4 February as a 69th minute substitute in a 1–1 draw at home to West Ham United.[36] On 4 March, Gordon was named in the starting line-up for the first time in a 2–0 loss to Manchester City, but was taken off in the 62nd minute,[37] and an ankle injury would see him miss the next two matches.[38] After making his return in a 2–0 win over Manchester United, he was mainly used as a substitute. On 8 April, against Brentford, he came on at half-time, but had the ignominy of being subbed off.[39] He reacted angrily to manager Eddie Howe, who later explained that Gordon had come off as a precaution because of his ankle injury.[40] Expecting a hostile reception upon his return to Goodison Park on 27 April,[41] his contribution ended up being minimal, with the game already won as Newcastle were 4–1 up.[42] On 28 May, Gordon scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Chelsea.[43]
On 12 August, Gordon assisted Sandro Tonali for the opening goal in a 5–1 win over Aston Villa.[44]
On 27 August 2023, Gordon scored his first home goal for Newcastle in a 2–1 defeat against boyhood club Liverpool.[45] On 2 December, he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Manchester United, matching Alan Shearer's streak in 1999 by scoring in four consecutive league home matches.[46]
International career
Having represented his country at U18 and U19 level, Gordon made his debut for the England under-20s during a 2–0 victory over Wales at St George's Park on 13 October 2020.[47]
On 5 November 2021, Gordon received his first call up for the England under-21s[48] and scored twice on his debut, a 3–1 victory over Czech Republic at Turf Moor in 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification on 11 November 2021.[49][50]
On 14 June 2023, Gordon was included in the England squad for the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship.[51][52] He scored during a group stage victory over Israel and also recorded the only goal of the quarter-final against Portugal.[53][54] On 8 July 2023, Gordon started in the final as England beat Spain to lift the trophy.[55][56] Gordon was named Player of the Tournament and also chosen in the Team of the Tournament.[57][58]
Personal life
Gordon has a girlfriend, Annie Keating. He became a father in 2023.[59][60]
.jpg)
