Manchester City signs Elliot Anderson in £116m deal from Nottingham Forest
Elliot Anderson has completed a £116m transfer to Manchester City from Nottingham Forest. The England midfielder has signed a five-year contract with an option for an additional 12 months at the Etihad Stadium. The agreement for the move was reached earlier in the month and was finalized this week following Anderson’s return from the World Cup.
Anderson expressed his enthusiasm for joining what he described as “one of the biggest clubs in the world,” stating his ambition to win trophies with his new team. He noted that Manchester City has been dominant over the last 10 to 12 years, which was a key factor in his decision to join.
Anderson’s Journey to Manchester City
The 23-year-old midfielder was a target for Manchester United this summer before his move to Manchester City. Anderson declared his new club the “kings of Manchester” and is looking forward to the Manchester derby. The first derby of the new season is scheduled to take place at Old Trafford on September 13.
Anderson began his youth career at Newcastle, making 55 first-team appearances for the club. He also had a loan spell at Bristol Rovers. Two years ago, he joined Nottingham Forest in a £35m deal, playing 92 times for the team. During his time at Forest, he became an integral player, helping the club finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for Europe for the first time in 30 years. Last season, he contributed to Forest reaching the Europa League semi-finals and led the Premier League in touches and duels won.
His performances also earned him his first England call-up last season, and he became a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s side, featuring in every game at the World Cup.
Future Prospects and Club Ambitions
Anderson believes he has significant room for growth in his career. He stated, “I’m only 23, so I’ve got plenty of time to get to my best levels. I’m definitely not there yet and there’s more to come from me.” He described his playing style as bringing “a bit of everything,” including quality, physicality, and energy, with the aim of exciting fans and energizing the team.
The move holds personal significance for Anderson, who grew up admiring former Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne. He mentioned looking up to De Bruyne for the past seven or eight years and always aspiring to play like him. Being part of the team where De Bruyne achieved success is particularly special for him.
Hugo Viana, Manchester City’s director of football, praised Anderson as “one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football.” Viana highlighted Anderson’s energy, work rate, and passing range, noting his impressive improvement in recent years. He added that at 23, Anderson has ample opportunity for development and is expected to become a complete midfielder.
Anderson is currently on a summer break and is set to join new manager Enzo Maresca’s squad for pre-season training next month. The transfer fee for Anderson exceeds the £100m spent on Jack Grealish in 2021, making it a club-record fee for Manchester City. The deal was agreed upon between Forest and City on the eve of England’s Group L game against Panama during the World Cup.
The cost of top-end signings in the Premier League has seen a significant increase, with £100m-plus players becoming more common. This trend, which began with Jack Grealish’s move in 2021, has led to a doubling of the average price for premium players over the last decade. Other notable transfers this window include Florian Wirtz for £116.5m, Alexander Isak for £125m, Sandro Tonali for £100m, and Morgan Rogers for £117m. These moves have pushed top-end averages from £36.6m in 2024-25 to £70.5m in 2026.
Anderson’s contract runs until June 2031.
Read Also
Source: skysports.com
