André Filipe Tavares Gomes (Grijó, 1993) became one of the most talked-about signings of the summer in 2016. He was heavily linked with Real Madrid, but ultimately left Valencia for Barcelona in a deal worth 37 million plus 20 million in variables.
The most talked-about aspect, however, was a special clause whereby Barça would have to pay an additional 15 million if the Portuguese international won the Ballon d’Or. “That kind of thing comes later and doesn’t give me any more or less confidence. The Ballon d’Or isn’t an obsession. There are very good players like Iniesta who haven’t won it,” he confessed.
In Barcelona, it went from good to bad. He scored three goals and provided four assists in 78 games. “The first six months went pretty well, but then things changed. Maybe that’s not quite the right word, but it became a bit of a nightmare,” André Gomes reflected in Panenka, trying to explain the ‘block’ that gripped him on and off the pitch: “There have been more than a few occasions when I didn’t want to leave the house. The fact that people might look at you, being afraid to go out on the street because you feel ashamed…”
That kind of thing comes later and doesn’t give me any more or less confidence. The Ballon d’Or is not an obsession.
In 2018, he left on a transfer to Everton for 25 million and, in addition to four goals and seven assists in 114 games, he once again showed flashes of his class. However, his time at Goodison Park was marked by the tibiotarsal dislocation caused by Heung-min Son in 2019, which kept him off the pitch for four months. “My injury was traumatic. I couldn’t look at my foot. I didn’t want to have that image in my mind,” he admitted some time later.
My injury was traumatic. I couldn’t look at my foot. I didn’t want to have that image in my mind.
In 2024, André Gomes, European champion with Portugal in 2016, returned to Lille after ending his contract with Everton. He had already been on loan there in 2022-23, when he ended a 1,463-day goal drought in the league with a stunning strike reminiscent of Zidane.
Now, after two seasons, 53 games, four goals, and two assists with the ‘dogos’, André Gomes is embarking on the ‘American dream’. The 32-year-old Portuguese international has signed with Columbus Crew until June 2027… with an option for one more season.
André’s leadership, experience, and professionalism will strengthen our midfield and have a major impact on our squad.
“André is a player with exceptional tactical and technical qualities, which he has demonstrated playing at the highest level in Europe. André’s leadership, experience, and professionalism will strengthen our midfield and have a major impact on our squad,” said Issa Tall, general manager of Columbus Crew, describing ‘O Maestro’, as he has already been dubbed.
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