Anthony Gordon may have played just five matches since arriving at Barcelona in May, but the England winger is already a firm favourite with supporters — earning four assists and proving his worth in one of Europe's most demanding attacking systems.

The 25-year-old, who made the move from Newcastle United for £70 million, has occupied the left-wing role that Marcus Rashford filled on loan for Barcelona last season. Gordon's arrival raised eyebrows in some quarters, but the early signs have been emphatically positive.

From uncertainty to impact

When Gordon became only the second English player to join Barcelona on a permanent deal — following Gary Lineker in 1986 — questions were legitimate. In the Premier League last season, he contributed six goals and two assists in 26 appearances, with three of those goals coming from the penalty spot, as Newcastle United finished 12th.

His Champions League record, however, told a very different story. Gordon scored 10 goals in 12 Champions League appearances — a tally bettered only by Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid (15) and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane (14). That European pedigree is precisely what persuaded Barcelona to invest.

A glimpse of what was to come arrived when Newcastle were beaten 7-2 by Barcelona in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie — 8-3 on aggregate. For Gordon, the occasion planted a seed. He has spoken since of feeling something meaningful during that night at the Nou Camp.

Fitting into Flick's system