André Gomes and the Ballon d'Or clause: From Camp Nou chaos to Columbus Crew
André Gomes has signed for Columbus Crew until 2027, capping a career that took in Barça, Everton, and Lille — plus one of football's most unusual contract clauses.
From a Ballon d’Or clause that made headlines across Europe to rocking up in Ohio at 32 — André Gomes has had one of the more quietly fascinating careers in recent memory.
The move that came with a very unusual small print
Back in the summer of 2016, Gomes was one of the most talked-about transfers going. Real Madrid were sniffing around, but it was Barcelona who got their man, signing him from Valencia for €37 million plus €20m in add-ons. Decent enough business on paper.
What really got people talking, though, was the clause buried in the deal: if Gomes ever won the Ballon d’Or, Barça would owe an extra €15 million. As it goes, he was fairly relaxed about it at the time, noting that brilliant players like Iniesta never won it either. Fair point, that.
Camp Nou: a dream that turned difficult
His time in Catalonia didn’t go to plan. In 78 appearances he chipped in with three goals and four assists — not exactly the numbers you’d hope for after that kind of outlay. More troubling was what was going on off the pitch. Gomes later opened up about serious mental health struggles during his time at the club, describing periods where he didn’t want to leave the house out of shame and fear of being seen in public. Brave stuff to talk about, and it put his on-pitch performances in a very different light.
Everton and a horrible injury
He moved to Goodison Park in 2018 for €25 million, and life on Merseyside suited him better in many ways. Across 114 games he showed flashes of genuine quality.
- 4 goals, 7 assists for the Toffees
- Became a fan favourite for his composure and technique
- But his time there will forever be overshadowed by a horrific ankle dislocation suffered in 2019, caused by a challenge from Son Heung-min
- He was out for four months and admitted he couldn’t even look at his own foot after the incident
Grim reading, that.
Lille: a second wind — and a Zidane-esque goal
After leaving Everton, Gomes had two spells at Lille. The first was a loan in 2022-23, during which he ended a jaw-dropping 1,463-day goal drought in league football with a stunning strike that drew comparisons to Zidane. He then returned permanently in 2024, racking up 53 appearances, four goals and two assists across both stints.
Hello, Columbus
Now the Portuguese international — a Euro 2016 winner with his country, don’t forget — is heading Stateside. At 32, he’s signed for Columbus Crew until June 2027, with an option for a further season. The club’s general manager Issa Tall has already dubbed him ‘O Maestro’ and talked up his tactical and technical qualities.
It’s a solid move for all involved. Gomes gets a fresh challenge in a growing league, and Columbus get a player who, when things have clicked, has looked genuinely top drawer. Whether the Ballon d’Or clause travels with him to MLS is, we can only assume, a matter between him and his agent.