Manchester City have reached an agreement with Nottingham Forest for the transfer of midfielder Elliot Anderson. The deal is understood to be a club record for Manchester City. Anderson is expected to undergo a medical examination before finalising his move to the Etihad Stadium.
Sources from Manchester City indicate the fee for Anderson is £116m, without any additional bonuses. Other reports suggest the deal could be valued at up to £130m, which would surpass the £125m paid by Liverpool for Alexander Isak, making it a British record fee. Nottingham Forest had previously rejected two offers from Manchester City, seeking a higher transfer fee.
Personal terms are not anticipated to be a hurdle, and there was confidence that the transfer would eventually be completed once Manchester City submitted a third bid. Anderson is currently with the England squad in the USA for the World Cup, where he has featured in both group matches so far.
Anderson’s focus on England duty
Anderson is preparing for England’s final Group L match against Panama, scheduled for Saturday. The timing of his medical is currently undecided due to his international commitments. Despite the ongoing transfer discussions, Anderson has stated his focus remains on his performance for England.
He told a news outlet, “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.”
England manager Thomas Tuchel described Anderson as the “full package” during the World Cup preparation camp, expressing confidence that the interest from Manchester City would not distract him. Tuchel highlighted Anderson’s quality, stating, “He’s a top player. There’s nothing more to say, he’s the full package. I’m happy that he’s with us on that kind of level and he’s a key player for us.”
Forest’s midfield plans
Anderson joined Nottingham Forest from Newcastle in 2024 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.
His influence at Forest grew significantly 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. He also doubled his goal tally from two to four, although his Premier League assists decreased from six to four.
Nottingham Forest are now expected to sign two midfielders this summer, anticipating Anderson’s departure. The club is reportedly interested in Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Davide Frattesi from Inter Milan. Forest also have a long-standing interest in Celtic’s Arne Engels, having attempted to sign both Frattesi and Engels in January.
Anderson’s move to Forest in 2024 was reportedly influenced by Newcastle’s concerns over breaching profit and sustainability rules. Newcastle manager Eddie Howe described the sale as “the most reluctant in my career.” Anderson, who made his senior England debut in September 2025, is contracted to the Midlands club until 2029.
Read Also
- South Africa makes history with first World Cup knockout stage qualification
- McLaren in preliminary talks with Max Verstappen for potential Lando Norris partnership
- Hamilton reveals serious neck injury sustained during 2025 Ferrari testing
- Japan and Sweden secure knockout stage berths in World Cup 2026
Source: bbc.com
As News-GB.org's Sports Reporter, Eleanor Vance reports on tennis, cricket and athletics for readers across the country. She built her name on long-form athlete profiles. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from the University of Bath and completed an NCTJ diploma. Eleanor lives in Bath, where she swims competitively and follows British athletics. “A profile is only as good as the questions behind it.”