It was seen as all but a certainty that Bayern Munich were going to sign Anthony Gordon.
Personal terms reported to have been agreed some time ago with the England international and as the season was coming to a close, the Bundesliga champions in talks with Newcastle United on the final transfer fee.
However, Thursday afternoon has seen Anthony Gordon instead fly into Barcelona.
The Newcastle United star arriving to take his medical before completing a move to Barca.
When he arrived at the airport in Barcelona, Anthony Gordon met by fans and media, the player telling journalists he was “Very happy” to be signing for the La Liga champions.
So what happened with Bayern Munich?
Over in Germany there is disbelief that a deal hasn’t been done to sign Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United.
However, this turns out to be very much a case of what happened in summer 2025 with Bayern Munich and Nick Woltemade.
Last summer Bayern Munich tried to take advantage of the fact that Nick Woltemade was keen to join them and over a period of time put in a number of disrespectful lowball offers, far below what Stuttgart’s valuation was. When a third such offer was made, Stuttgart said enough was enough and refused to continue talks with Bayern Munich. In the end that allowed Newcastle United to arrive late and sign a striker that Bayern Munich had seen as the long-term successor to Harry Kane.
History has now repeated itself.
Bayern Munich knowing Anthony Gordon was keen to sign for them and arrogantly believing they had more or less total control of the situation.
Now reported in Germany that despite in talks with Newcastle United for weeks, Bayern Munich had refused to come anywhere close to what Newcastle’s valuation was. Instead, the German club believing their lowball approach would bully United into a deal.
The ‘best’ Bayern Munich offer reported to be €55m (approx £47m) plus one of their goalkeepers Alexander Nubel, a keeper that Newcastle United had no interest in.
This lowball approach then massively backfiring when in recent days Barcelona came in and had talks with Newcastle United in London and rapidly presented an offer of around £70m which United accepted.
Bayern Munich unable to react in time to try and prevent Anthony Gordon going to Barcelona.
Over in Germany, Bild reporting that Barcelona President Joan Laporta even spoke to Gordon by phone to emphasise just how much he was wanted at the Catalan club.