Barcelona Delay First Payment on Anthony Gordon Transfer

Barcelona have postponed the first instalment of the transfer fee for Anthony Gordon from Newcastle, according to the club’s 2025-26 financial accounts, further highlighting concerns about its financial position.

The England international joined the Catalan giants in an €80m move this summer, defying expectations by opting for Catalonia after being linked with a switch to Arsenal and Bayern Munich.

Gordon, 25, has hit the ground running at his new club, registering four assists in his opening four La Liga contests and playing a key role off the bench in Wednesday’s 5-1 Champions League triumph over Feyenoord.

Away from the pitch, however, things have not gone quite so smoothly.

The club’s accounts reveal a €22.3m payment – due on 31 July – has been deferred.

Barcelona are set to make an initial instalment of €44.6m when the time comes, with the full €70m owing to Newcastle as an upfront fee.

Another €10m is also included as add-ons, with incentives for the midfielder to play 60 per cent of the available minutes in each campaign, as well as for specific trophies to be won.

Culemania, the financial analysts who first reported the postponement, say the delay reflects a €1m profit for the season ahead, one which leaves no room for manoeuvre.

That comes as Barcelona continues to carry out works on the third tier of the Camp Nou, work which has already seen the press box at the famed stadium submerged during the previous encounter against Feyenoord.

Further financial pressure has been caused by a €210m loan, taken out at the start of the summer transfer window and given against projected TV revenues, to fund incoming transfers.

Despite the outlay, the club’s ambitions to strengthen in the final weeks of the season were thwarted by a disagreement between themselves and Atletico Madrid, with Julian Alvarez’s proposed switch falling through.

Following Robert Lewandowski’s impending departure, they will also need to identify a long term replacement, one which is set to come at a cost of at least €100m.

President Joan Laporta has repeatedly found ways to fund short term needs, but the postponement of Gordon’s transfer shows there is less scope for getting into debt, and further improvisation will be needed to ensure summer signings take place as planned.