'Never bothered' - Anthony Gordon takes aim at Everton after revealing Newcastle United truth

Anthony Gordon has hit back at the way Everton handled his exit £45million exit to Newcastle United in January 2023.

The 23-year-old came through the youth ranks at Everton, going on to make 78 appearances and be crowed the club’s Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season. However, the Toffees failed to recognise his efforts or indeed wish him well in their short statement announcing his departure.

The perception was Gordon forced a move to the Magpies but the winger explained: “I did want to leave, but also the club did have to sell me. The way it was played out was that I was desperate to leave which wasn’t the case, but I wanted to fulfil my ambitions and ultimately, I never bothered too much about wanting to change people’s minds. If they believe what they’ve read, then that’s fine with me.

“Leaving Everton didn’t need to go the way that it did. A lot of what you see in the media is club driven and I didn’t care too much to change the perspective because I’m comfortable in myself and how it ended, and ultimately, I got what I wanted by joining Newcastle.”

Everton supporters have shown no signs that they are willing to forgive Gordon for leaving. On his two visits to Goodison Park with Newcastle, Gordon has received a hostile reception.

““The whole process of leaving Everton for Newcastle was difficult, but I think being mentally strong has played a huge part of me being the player I am now, which I’m thankful for, but it was so hard at the time,” Gordon told The Overlap.

 “Liverpool’s biggest unity is everyone being together with Scousers looking after Scousers, and for someone to leave that environment, no one is going to like that and rightly so, but ultimately, I’m too ambitious to turn down the opportunity that was presented to me.

“Newcastle are only going one way currently and looking from the outside, they’re absolutely flying, and I think they were 4th at the time of when I joined, so it was a no brainer for me. 

“My ambition is to be at the very top in football, whatever that looks like and I couldn’t do that where I was.”

He added: “It [leaving Everton] is much harder than people perceive it to be. On the outside looking in, they just think I want to leave – that’s it, it’s done. It was of course difficult, but ultimately, I’m desperate to get to where I need to get to where my ambition takes control.

“When I get opportunities like Newcastle, I was never ever going to say no.”

Despite a challenging opening six months on Tyneside, Gordon’s decision to join Eddie Howe’s side has quickly been vindicated. Gordon is currently in the form of his career, hitting double figures in terms of goals for the campaign and last month making his debut for England.