Harry Kane explains how Anthony Gordon’s £69m Barcelona move has helped in-form winger become ‘difference maker’ for England
Harry Kane can see Anthony Gordon’s summer move to Barcelona has infused him with confidence to reach new levels.
Gordon scored England’s opener in a 2-0 win in the Czech Republic on Tuesday and now has three goals in as many games for his country.
There is more to it than goals, however, because he has been the biggest attacking threat in Thomas Tuchel’s team across those games with his electric pace and willingness to keep making runs behind the opposition defence.
‘The move to Barcelona has helped him,’ said England captain Kane, who has not looked back since leaving Tottenham for Bayern Munich in 2023. ‘Sometimes going to a big club like that gives you more self-belief, more confidence. You feel like you belong on the biggest stage and he’s taken that into his England performances.’
Barcelona paid £69million to sign Gordon from Newcastle before the World Cup, when the 25-year-old sparkled on England’s left wing.
He scored against Argentina in the World Cup semi-final defeat, against world champions Spain at Wembley on Saturday in the Nations League and his stooping header against the Czechs took his England tally to four in 25 appearances.
Harry Kane (left) can see how Anthony Gordon (left) has been buoyed by his Barcelona move
‘He was the difference maker,’ said Kane, who scored England’s second in Prague to stretch his own record to 87 international goals.
‘Always looking to be direct and be the one to get us ahead and a great finish from him as well. Those finishes are not easy and he took it really well. He’s an important player for us right now.’
Trent Alexander-Arnold claimed the assist for Gordon’s goal with a wonderful cross on his return to the England team and first start under Tuchel.
Alexander-Arnold’s career has not received the same shot in the arm since he left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2025, but this was a reminder of his creativity from right back and against a team playing with 10 men for more than an hour he was barely tested defensively.
‘Trent’s outstanding,’ said Kane. ‘The delivery, passing range, crossing but also defensively he was outstanding. You know he’s a fantastic player. Trent just has to keep his head down and keep working hard.
‘He’s been great in camp so far, the way he’s trained, the way he’s pushed himself and pushed others around him.
‘He’s showing to the boss that he wants to be here, wants to be in this team and put in a fantastic performance.’
