Anderson’s move to Manchester City
Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of midfielder Elliot Anderson. The deal is reported to be for £116m, which would mark a club record for Manchester City. Anderson, who is 23 years old, is anticipated to undergo a medical examination before finalising his move to the Etihad Stadium.
Sources close to Manchester City confirm the fee for Anderson as £116m, with no additional bonuses. However, other reports suggest the deal could be valued at up to £130m. This higher figure would establish a new British record transfer fee, surpassing the £125m paid by Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak last summer.
Nottingham Forest had initially sought a higher fee for Anderson, having previously turned down two offers from Manchester City. Personal terms are not expected to be a hindrance to the transfer, and confidence in the deal’s completion grew after Manchester City submitted a third bid.
International duty and club history
Anderson is currently with the England squad, preparing for their final Group L match against Panama at the World Cup. He recently stated that he has put his club future aside to focus on his international commitments. “It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out,” Anderson said. “I’ve got a plan and it’s to perform for England. I’m putting myself in the best position to cross the line and do that.”
Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35m. During his time at the club, he made 88 appearances and scored four goals. He played a key role in Forest finishing seventh in the Premier League in the 2024-25 season and reaching the Europa League semi-finals in the subsequent season, where they finished 16th in the league.
His journey began at his boyhood club, Newcastle, where he joined at the age of eight and made his first-team debut in 2021. He went on to make 55 appearances for Newcastle before his transfer to Forest. This move was reportedly influenced by Newcastle’s concerns about breaching profit and sustainability rules.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described Anderson’s sale as “the most reluctant in my career.” Anderson quickly became a regular starter for Forest and contributed to their qualification for Europe in 2024-25. After representing Scotland at youth level, he switched to England’s under-21s in August 2024, making his senior debut in September 2025.
Impact and future plans
Anderson’s influence at Nottingham Forest significantly increased during the 2025-26 season. He recorded the most touches in the Premier League with 3,300, won possession 306 times, won 297 duels, and drew 80 fouls. His goal tally for the season doubled from two to four, though his Premier League assists decreased from six to four.
His performances brought him to the attention of the national team, and he has since become a regular in Thomas Tuchel’s England side, earning 11 caps since his debut last September. He has started England’s initial two World Cup matches against Croatia and Ghana.
With Anderson’s impending departure, Nottingham Forest are reportedly looking to strengthen their midfield. The club is interested in signing Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan. Forest are expected to sign two midfielders this summer to bolster their squad.
Forest’s owner, Evangelos Marinakis, had previously stated that any deal for Anderson would need to exceed the £125m fee paid by Liverpool for Alexander Isak. Anderson has consistently favoured a move to the Etihad Stadium over other interested clubs, including Manchester United. Manchester City had identified him as a primary target for this transfer window.
Anderson’s rise has been notable since his breakthrough into Newcastle’s first team following a loan spell at Bristol Rovers during the latter half of the 2021-22 season. He scored against his former club in his final match for Forest last month.
Newcastle will not receive any financial benefit from Anderson’s transfer to Manchester City, as his sale to Forest was necessitated by the club’s need to comply with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability regulations. As part of that earlier deal, Odysseas Vlachodimos moved in the opposite direction. At the time, Forest valued Anderson at £15m and Vlachodimos at £20m.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As News-UK's Sports News Writer, Oscar Pennington reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He built a reputation for sharp explainer pieces on regional sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Oscar lives in Nottingham, where he follows the pro golf tour and amateur boxing. “Context is what turns a result into a story.”
