Aged just 21 years old at the time of joining Newcastle United, Anthony left an Everton club under a cloud after allegedly going on strike for 3 days and handing in a transfer request for force a move to the Magpies.

At the time of leaving the Toffees, Everton were in complete disarray, second bottom of the Premier League and unable to sign players having broken FFP rules a year before. A run of losses just before Anthony left had lead to Frank Lampard getting sacked and the players repeatedly booed off the pitch. Indeed after his last game at Goodison, Gordon couldn't get his car away from the ground for being surrounded by angry fans who shouted 'you're not fit to wear the shirt' and 'get out of our club' at the young lad.

For a local lad, who had joined the club at the age of 11 and who had been the subject of a £60m bit from Chelsea just 6 months before, it certainly must have felt like time to move on.

A 'full blooded' player, who'd managed to get in face of a few of Newcastle's players on his previous visit to SJP, his energy and desire to win would certainly have attracted manager Eddie Howe (even if he would have to kiss and make up with several in the dressing room on his first day).

His time at Newcastle United would be littered with many more ups than downs, yet Anthony would never quite be embraced by the Newcastle public in the same way as others at the club at the time.

On the pitch he had moments of real quality, and his hard working and never say die attitude (for the most part) would ofter show glimpses of the start quality the lad truly had. Star quality that was never more evident in his final season at the Magpies in the biggest club competition of them all, the Champions League, where 10 goals in just 12 games put him amongst the contender for the golden boot despite United not getting past the Round of 16.

That form, including three games against Barcelona, peaked the the interest of the Spanish club, where he'd go upon leaving Newcastle in the summer of 2026. Newcastle having seemingly learned from the drawn our Isak saga of the year before and concluded a deal with his sale before the transfer window even opened with the Spanish giants and with the looming World Cup only likely to cloud things further otherwise.

For most, though, he'll be remembered fondly. Not perhaps as a 'legend' but as a great player for the Magpies. This, mostly, because of his contribution to Newcastle winning the League Cup in 2025. His performances in the two semi-final games against a ruthless Arsenal team at the time, together with Isak, being something of a stand out. He'd miss the final, due to a moment of stupidity in the last league game before the cup final. A shame for him personally, but in so many ways he'd already made his contribution by then, and as it happened, United won it anyway (just as well for his legacy at the club).

Could he have stayed longer. Certainly. Were the signs there he'd made up his mind to leave. Indeed. Did all parties handle his exit in the best way possible. For sure.

A quality player. A cup winning Magpie. Asking for much more feels a little greedy.

Thanks Anthony.