Manchester City agree club record deal for Elliot Anderson
Manchester City have agreed a club-record deal with Nottingham Forest to sign England midfielder Elliot Anderson for £116m. The 23-year-old is set for a medical before completing his move to the Etihad Stadium, surpassing the £100m paid for Jack Grealish and putting roy keane-era transfer benchmarks firmly in the past.
City sources insist the fee is £116m with no bonuses attached, though other reports suggest the package could reach £130m—a figure that would eclipse the £125m Liverpool paid Newcastle for Alexander Isak. Forest rejected two earlier City bids before accepting a third, according to the BBC.
Key Takeaways
- Manchester City will pay a guaranteed £116m club-record fee for Elliot Anderson.
- The England midfielder, 23, joined Forest from Newcastle for £35m in 2024.
- Sky Sports analysts cite his versatility and off-ball work as justifying a nine-figure price.
- Anderson is expected to undergo a medical in the US while on World Cup duty.
- Forest are already scouting replacements including Tottenham's Lucas Bergvall.
Why did Manchester City pay a record fee for Elliot Anderson?
City made Anderson their primary midfield target this summer. Personal terms are not expected to be an issue, and the player had always preferred a move to the Etihad over Manchester United, The Guardian reported.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis held firm throughout negotiations, rejecting offers until City met his valuation. City had two previous bids turned down before a third offer sealed the agreement.
What makes Anderson worth more than £100m?
Sky Sports describes Anderson as the "cream of the crop" among modern midfielders. He can play as a single pivot or alongside Declan Rice, break lines, press, win duels, and score goals—the full toolkit City need in central midfield.
Statistically, he topped Forest's charts last season for chances created (54), big chances created (nine), and expected assists (4.8). England head coach Thomas Tuchel calls him "the full package," while Eddie Howe labelled his Newcastle sale the "most reluctant transfer" of his career.
How did Anderson rise from Bristol Rovers to a British record?
Four years after helping Bristol Rovers win promotion from League Two on loan in 2022, Anderson stands on the verge of becoming the most expensive British footballer ever. He scored seven goals in 21 appearances for the Pirates, including the final strike in their 7-0 final-day win over Scunthorpe.
After 55 Newcastle appearances, he moved to Forest for £35m—a deal effectively forced on the Magpies over profit and sustainability rules. In 88 Forest games he helped them finish seventh and reach the Europa League semi-finals before earning 11 England caps.
What happens next for Nottingham Forest?
Anderson will complete a medical—potentially in the US during England's World Cup campaign—before signing at the Etihad. Forest are interested in Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan's Davide Frattesi, and are expected to sign two midfielders this summer.
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