Seasons2020-21Everton News
Rising star Gordon handed new contract by Everton
Everton's young attacking midfielder, Anthony Gordon, has underlined his breakthrough season by agreeing a new 5-year contract with Everton.
The 19-year-old only just signed his first professional contract with the Blues in March of last year and that was set to run for the next 4 years, but Carlo Ancelotti and Marcel Brands have now stated their confidence in him with a new deal that runs until June 2025.
Gordon joined Everton aged 11 and made his senior debut in a Europa League tie against Apollon Limassol as a 16-year-old way back in December 2017. After making his Premier League debut away at West Ham this January, he has played a total of 11 senior games, registering four starts under Carlo Ancelotti.
Gordon told evertontv: “I am delighted to sign and it is a big reward for my hard work. The contract shows the club's faith in me and how much confidence they have in me and that is going to come out in my performances on the pitch.
“Everton is looking like it is on the up. We are coming together as players, staff and fans. We have new things to be excited about, such as the new manager, Marcel [Brands] is a great Director [of Football] and we have the new stadium to look forward to.
“Hopefully, we can grow and progress together and get that bit of experience where we can go and do something. Not just push for silverware but get there and win trophies and achieve what we want to achieve.”
And Gordon had a special word of praise for his coach Duncan Ferguson: "Duncan has been massive for me since I have come up to the first team. He is a person I can rely on to bounce things off. I couldn't say enough about him and what he is doing for me. He was the one who really pushed for me to come up with the first team a couple of years back.
"I am thankful to him for that and everything he is doing with me. And Mr Ancelotti has been massive for me. We have a good relationship.
"He tests me every day and doesn't allow me to be comfortable. As a young player, you should never be comfortable. That is making me strive to be better every day and never reach the point where I think, ‘I am here, I am comfortable'.
"His presence around the place is always testing me and keeping me on my toes."
The 19-year-old knows he has shown big signs of improvement over the course of the 2019-20 season, but he still has his sights set on getting even better once the new season gets under way.
“The improvements I've made don't mean I'm perfect at anything. I still need to improve on lots of little things, such as tactical awareness," he added.
“For me, it is efficiency in the final third, making the right decisions. And numbers; goals and assists, ultimately they are what I am judged on as an attacking player.
Reader Comments (55)
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2 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:26:48
3 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:29:57
4 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:45:08
Definitely not the finished article and needs to bulk up a bit, (too easily eased off the ball), but really like him and wish him well.
5 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:46:02
6 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:53:00
The 5-year contract could make him think he has already achieved his goal, although I don't know the lad and maybe he has got the strength of character, ambition and determination to strive to establish himself as a good Premier League player. I'd like to believe he has.
7 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:53:13
8 Posted 01/09/2020 at 13:11:41
9 Posted 01/09/2020 at 13:30:01
Having said that, I must say I have been a little underwhelmed by Anthony's performances in the first team, from the chances he has been given.
Excuses can be, the season has been disjointed for all, the reconvening behind closed doors doesn't generate the same atmosphere. Although, if we manage to land our well-mooted targets, where will Anthony fit in? The other side of the coin may be that he has to try even harder with competition for places.
Either way, Carlo must have seen a lot more than we have at Finch Farm, and enough to have convinced whoever dishes out these contracts to persuade the lad to sign.
Don't let us down, Anthony, and don't let it get you down if you are seeing more of the bench than you would prefer, but you come across as a decent level-headed sort, so I doubt whether that will happen. Learn from these that (hopefully) are coming in.
10 Posted 01/09/2020 at 13:55:02
Already better than Bernard in 2020, how long could we go on without paying him more?
5 years, why not? He's ambitious, clearly a massive Evertonian, and I'm sure the contract will get upgraded again before even 3 years from today, so 3- or 4- or 5-year contracts wouldn't matter, I reckon. He'll be too good to keep on these wages, whatever they are, and will go up again, deservedly, within a year or two.
11 Posted 01/09/2020 at 14:46:30
"WTF???
5 year contract for a 19 year old?
League 1 player at best
What has he ever won in his career?
The world has gone mad
We thought Osman was light weight, this guy makes Osman look like Arnold Schwarzenegger
Everton have been taken to the cleaners again by greedy agents
Moshiri is a fool
Brands out
Kenwright out
It is all Hibbert's fault
etc, etc."
12 Posted 01/09/2020 at 14:49:32
13 Posted 01/09/2020 at 14:53:12
I think behind his affable exterior, Carlo is a very demanding manager, and it must be an absolute privilege for youngsters like Gordon to learn from and try to impress this guy. He will not tolerate mediocrity, and players like Gordon, Kean, Davies, Holgate, Branthwaite, Kenny, Gibson, Adeniran, Calvert-Lewin, Simms, etc will all benefit massively during Ancelotti's tenure here.
Good luck to young Gordon, I wish him a great career with Everton.
14 Posted 01/09/2020 at 14:58:41
15 Posted 01/09/2020 at 14:58:57
The lad is of obvious quality, if we gave him just 3 years and he has an excellent season this season, then the talk would be of how he only has 2 years left and how the vultures are circling.
While most lads spent lockdown on video games, then went off sunning themselves over cocktails after the season ended, this lad stayed and worked with his Personal Trainer.
He's the real deal and I'm made up we've got him tied down.
16 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:10:17
17 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:13:32
18 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:19:10
19 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:19:16
I hope he goes on to be an Everton legend.
20 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:27:52
Off topic but it's the latest thread. It makes me nervous how long Everton are in finalising deals.
Rumours of Von de Beek to Man Utd yesterday and within a few hours medical completed, Eze to Crystal Palace the same.
I hate the waiting game.
21 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:30:07
I was made up to read Anthony say that and I hope he does what he says and continues to improve.
I've been watching him since he was 16 and I know his undoubted skills and ability, and I can tell you that there is a lot more to Anthony's game than he shown so far. That will come, hopefully, the more he plays.
I think he is doing what he is told to do, at the moment. If and when he is let off the lease, he will have fans drooling, and I know he will do that whether the contract is for 3 or 4 years. But I think I am allowed to say that I would not give any young player a 5-year contract, unless, of course he was another Wayne Rooney, and they only come round every blue moon.
22 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:33:42
It does, however, prevent the possibility of Anthony being "stolen" away on the cheap should he really push on in the next year or two.
If he does (push on) then the club keep him or get a good price because he has x number of years left on his contract. If he doesn't then the club may choose to sell him anyway.
It doesn't state how much salary he will be getting, and nor should it IMO.
23 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:35:07
What is most unusual is when clubs get very high profile successful manager, that usually signals big money buys to the exclusion of the young players at the club. But Ancelotti has shown great faith in the young players, especially Gordon and Branthwaite, giving them their Everton debuts.
He has also given Calvert-Lewin, Davies and Holgate the chance to cement themselves in the first team.
24 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:49:46
On a slightly different note, I read that AS Monaco have joined the "transfer race" for Doucouré... and also that we had an offer rejected for Barcelona right-back Emerson.
Not such good news...
25 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:56:39
However having seen the underachievers coming and going since Rooney burst onto the scene it would be a breath of fresh air to see some new faces make it.
Alas the Premier League is rife with overpriced imports but there are one or two homegrown gems with various clubs showing that the Brits can compete with the best of them so hopefully clubs will not mortgage the house to sign players from outside.
Antony Gordon showed along with Branthwaite that they have great potential and I do hope they get more chances to show it.
26 Posted 01/09/2020 at 15:57:47
I think during lockdown there was some social-distanced interview between Ancelotti, Kaka and a host on the AC Milan website and it was abundantly clear that Kaka had all the time in the world for his 'Meester'.
Anthony Gordon is called the 'Ginger Messi' but under his meester's careful tutelage he could become our 'Ginger Kaka'.
But, on the other hand, I thought Osman was class... so forget it.
28 Posted 01/09/2020 at 16:13:37
29 Posted 01/09/2020 at 16:28:19
Far more sensible than Keane's (enough said on that one) reward and although I don't agree with offering a contract only 1 year on from the last, it's very different for youngsters who can go from hundreds, to thousands and tens of thousands in line with a professional footballer, (which they are) in a matter of months.
Well done lad, keep going, don't be afraid to shoot with either foot or with your mouth at the senior players when deserved.
30 Posted 01/09/2020 at 16:36:45
31 Posted 01/09/2020 at 16:51:28
As Derek has said, l am also underwhelmed. He has done okay in a couple instances, nothing more. I'd be loaning him out along with Branthwaite and make sure he plays some football every week.
32 Posted 01/09/2020 at 17:13:17
33 Posted 01/09/2020 at 17:24:04
34 Posted 01/09/2020 at 17:30:53
He's not the finished article yet and hopefully he can add more goals to his game this season. He showed he's a decent finisher with his right foot in the U18s & U23s.
35 Posted 01/09/2020 at 18:16:31
Wouldn't we all. But one or two every 10 years really isn't cutting it.
36 Posted 01/09/2020 at 18:29:13
37 Posted 01/09/2020 at 18:51:48
38 Posted 01/09/2020 at 18:53:18
Hopefully, this is the first in a new line of homegrown talent with Simms, Dobbin, and Onyango to follow over the next 3 seasons.
39 Posted 01/09/2020 at 18:57:13
Good luck to the lad but, if what you say is true...
40 Posted 01/09/2020 at 19:12:47
This is a smart move. He was on a 4-year deal on a (relative) pittance, an U23 pros wage. Leave him on that and he'd be engineering a move. We've now put him on improved terms to reflect he's actually first team and extended the deal by a year.
Remember the Barkley scenario? Ross got his first pro deal, and then the one Gordon just got to reflect he was now in the first team, then he didn't get another new deal and almost left on a free.
I doubt anyone thinks Gordon is not going to be at least a half-decent player. There's every possibility he's going to fulfil the vast potential and so we need an extra year on the deal in case he really takes off this season and big boys come knocking.
This deal means he will still have a year to run at 24 and two at 23. We're protected if the sharks come for him.
If he bombs out, then I bet he's still on less than £30k a week, aka ¼ of Sigurdsson's wages. I don't think that's a bad move to protect our investment in the lad.
41 Posted 01/09/2020 at 19:19:40
He is still learning, but it is a good deal, and it will give him plenty of confidence.
42 Posted 01/09/2020 at 19:26:35
43 Posted 01/09/2020 at 19:35:01
I really like Anthony Gordon. Going to be a top player for us.
Great news.
44 Posted 01/09/2020 at 19:45:32
C'mon Everton and Brands get the players Carlo wants! I'm just amazed Gabriel wasn't tempted to 2 tickets for the theatre and the DVD "David Moyes – Ten from Ten".
45 Posted 01/09/2020 at 20:13:33
So sure, respect there, of course. But perhaps they're so used to calling him 'mister' that they just do it in interviews too?
46 Posted 01/09/2020 at 20:19:22
Yes, I realise that and I also hope he improves and becomes the player he can become. I could say he's got the same deal and wages that Garbutt got, if the £30,000 a week you quote is correct, £1.5M a year, that turned out well, and a few on here were predicting great things for the full-back.
At this stage, 19 years of age, it's all potential. To give him a 5-year deal on these wages is extravagant in my eyes. But, as I said previously, good luck to the lad.
47 Posted 01/09/2020 at 20:41:02
Nice that he has mentioned our Dunc as helping him, but of course some ToffeeWebber's know better: Big Dunc can't coach.
They know what really goes on at Finch Farm, but of course they don't...
48 Posted 01/09/2020 at 21:10:19
I am sure that Carlo has seen enough in training to know that, with normal progression, we could have a real player on our hands here.
Good luck to the lad
49 Posted 01/09/2020 at 21:22:53
Garbutt was bought from another club so the contract was offered without seeing the lad training every day.
Gordon has been judged under the tutelage of Ancelotti and his team so the contract will have been earned by what they see on a day to day basis.
I'm sure this deal will be good for all at the club and, when Gordon himself trains and plays with better quality players (hopefully this season), it will be considered smart business by the club.
50 Posted 01/09/2020 at 21:35:35
I asked him what's the script with Everton and never-ending dross? Apparently it's all down to Terry Darracott you know how he used to scythe down anything that moved well he went too far in Safeways in the 70s he was overlapping on the right side of aisle 6 pet foods when the Bishop of Liverpool's Mrs was the victim of a knee-high tackle that put her out of flower arranging for over 12 months. The Bish took exception and asked the Great Jehovah to do a number on EFC.
As for Gordon, he says the boy done good but not to get too full of himself or he could end up being bricked up in a tunnel like Henry the naughty engine. The Fat Controller Sir Topham Hat Kenwright is impressed with Gordon but will not accept him becoming another Martin Dobson, chewing baccy all through the game and wearing a smoking jacket and slippers on the pitch.
51 Posted 01/09/2020 at 21:54:21
53 Posted 02/09/2020 at 05:19:42
54 Posted 02/09/2020 at 08:09:15
55 Posted 02/09/2020 at 09:23:22
Yes, Garbutt was signed from Leeds Utd and Everton had to pay £650,000 compensation which Leeds were very upset with.
I think you will find that the 5-year contract was offered after he had played in the first team, which was much later than when he first signed, and it was rumoured that a few clubs were interested in him, including Liverpool.
Now Garbutt has just signed for Ipswich; I think he is now a millionaire trying to get a foothold back in football. That money might be a handicap when he has to get up early on cold winter mornings and go training every day, it all depends on his attitude and disposition.
I think Garbutt's career could be a warning to every young footballer who is offered rich pickings so early in their career. Mind you not a bad ending in Garbutt's case, and I hope he has the determination to carry on and make it back into top-class football.
56 Posted 02/09/2020 at 12:13:56
57 Posted 05/09/2020 at 04:02:41
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1 Posted 01/09/2020 at 12:21:14