Barcelona appear to have completed their first major signing of the summer, with Anthony Gordon now set to move from Newcastle United.
The Catalan giants have reached an agreement with Newcastle over a package worth €70 million plus bonuses, with the England international expected to sign a five-year contract at the club.
Gordon is also set to travel to Spain this Thursday, which is today, in order to complete his medical examinations before the transfer becomes official.
If all add-ons are triggered, the final value of the operation could rise slightly above €80 million.
However, from Barcelona’s perspective, the structure of the deal is considered financially manageable despite the high overall figure for the transfer.
A detailed look at the operation
Barcelona’s financial situation continues to force the club into carefully planning every major move in the transfer market.
Because of this, the board has spent months studying how any signing would affect Financial Fair Play margins before giving the green light.
For Gordon, the fixed €70 million transfer fee spread across a five-year contract means the amortisation cost lands at around €14 million per season.
Once Gordon’s estimated gross salary of roughly €11 million is included, the total yearly impact on Barcelona’s salary limit is expected to sit between €25 million and €26 million.
For many within the club, this is where the deal starts making far more sense than it initially appears.
Barcelona had also looked closely at Marcus Rashford as a possible option for the left wing role. Many have argued that if Barcelona can pay €70 million for Gordon, they can well and truly spend €30 million for Rashford.
But despite the England international’s permanent signing for a smaller transfer fee, the overall Financial Fair Play impact would have ended up being very similar.
A hypothetical €30 million deal for Rashford spread over three years would generate around €10 million annually in amortisation.
Combined with an estimated gross salary of €14 million, the Manchester United forward would have occupied close to €24 million in yearly Financial Fair Play space.
Simply put, Barcelona realised they could secure a younger player with resale value and long-term potential while spending almost the same amount within La Liga’s financial restrictions.
Beating the competition
The Catalan side also had to move quickly because Bayern Munich and Liverpool entered the race late in the negotiations.
Liverpool, in particular, believed Gordon’s ties to the city could work in their favour given the player’s family background and local connection.
But Barcelona ultimately convinced the winger with their sporting project and the opportunity to become an important piece under Hansi Flick.
Meanwhile, the bonus structure of the agreement also heavily favours Barcelona, as the additional €10 million will only be paid if Gordon helps the club win trophies while also maintaining an important role within the squad.
If those bonuses are eventually activated, it would likely mean the club has enjoyed success in competitions such as La Liga or the UEFA Champions League with Gordon playing a major role.
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