Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of midfielder Elliot Anderson. The deal is reported to be for a club record £116m. Anderson, an England international, is scheduled 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, without any additional bonuses, which would establish a new club record. However, other reports suggest the transfer could be valued at up to £130m. This higher figure would surpass the £125m paid by Liverpool for striker Alexander Isak last summer, making it a British record fee.

Anderson’s Journey to Manchester City

Nottingham Forest had initially sought a higher transfer fee for Anderson, having previously rejected two offers from Manchester City. Personal terms are not anticipated to be an obstacle, and there was consistent confidence that the deal would eventually be completed once Manchester City submitted a third bid.

Anderson is currently with the England squad, preparing for their final Group L match against Panama at the World Cup. He has stated his focus remains on his international duties, putting club matters aside. He commented, “It’s pretty easy really, I’m just focusing on the present, I’m blocking it all out. 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 in 2024 from Newcastle for £35m. During his time at Forest, he made 88 appearances and scored four goals. He played a role in Forest finishing seventh in the Premier League in the 2024-25 season and reaching the Europa League semi-finals last season, where they finished 16th in the league.

Anderson began his career at his boyhood club Newcastle, joining at the age of eight and making his first-team debut in 2021. He made 55 appearances for Newcastle before his transfer to Forest. His move from Newcastle was reportedly influenced by the club’s concerns regarding profit and sustainability rules, which could have led to a points deduction.

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described Anderson’s sale as “the most reluctant in my career.” Anderson quickly became a regular starter at Forest, contributing to their qualification for Europe in the 2024-25 season. After representing Scotland at youth level, he switched to England’s under-21s in August 2024, making his senior debut for England in September 2025.

Impact and Future Implications

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.

Forest are now looking to strengthen their midfield, with reported interest in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Davide Frattesi of Inter Milan. The club is expected to sign two midfielders this summer to bolster their squad following Anderson’s departure. Anderson’s move to Manchester City marks a significant transfer in the current window.

Anderson’s performances at club level attracted 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.

His rise has been notable since breaking into Newcastle’s first team after a loan spell at Bristol Rovers during the latter half of the 2021-22 season. Anderson scored against his former club, Newcastle, in his final match for Forest last month.

Source: bbc.co.uk

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