Manchester City have struck a deal with Nottingham Forest to bring in England midfielder Elliot Anderson for a sum that smashes their previous transfer record. The 23-year-old is now set to undergo a medical before officially joining the Premier League champions at the Etihad. City insiders confirm the fee sits at £116 million, a figure they insist is fixed with no additional bonuses. However, other reports suggest the total could climb as high as £130 million, which would not only break City’s club record but also set a new benchmark for British football, surpassing the £125 million Liverpool paid Newcastle for striker Alexander Isak just last summer.
Forest had been digging in their heels for weeks, turning down two earlier offers from City before finally agreeing to the third bid. The personal terms with Anderson are expected to be straightforward, and there was always an underlying sense that the deal would eventually go through once City upped their offer. Now that the move is all but confirmed, Forest are turning their attention to reinforcing their own midfield. Tottenham’s Lucas Bergvall and Inter Milan’s Davide Frattesi are both on their radar, with the club likely to bring in two new players to fill the gap left by Anderson’s departure.
Anderson himself has been keeping his focus firmly on the present, preparing for England’s final Group L match against Panama at the World Cup this Saturday. In an interview with BBC Sport earlier this week, he made it clear that his club future was the last thing on his mind. “It’s simple—I’m just concentrating on what’s in front of me,” he said. “I’ve got one goal right now, and that’s to perform for England. I’m doing everything I can to make sure I’m in the best shape to deliver when it matters.” Anderson joined Forest from Newcastle in 2024 for £35 million and has since made 88 appearances for the club, scoring four goals. His contributions helped Forest secure a seventh-place finish in the Premier League during the 2024-25 season and then a 16th-place finish last term, when they also reached the Europa League semi-finals.
The numbers from Anderson’s most recent season tell the story of his growing influence at Forest. He led the Premier League in touches (3,300), possession regains (306), duels won (297), and fouls drawn (80). While his goal tally doubled from two to four, his assist count dropped slightly from six to four. His rise hasn’t been without its challenges, though. Anderson initially came through the youth ranks at Newcastle, making his first-team debut in 2021 and going on to feature 55 times for the Magpies. His departure was a bitter pill for Newcastle, forced by the looming threat of breaking profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and facing a potential points deduction. Manager Eddie Howe described Anderson’s sale as “the most reluctant of my career.”
Anderson’s international journey has been just as dramatic. After representing Scotland at youth level, he switched allegiance to England’s under-21 side in August 2024 before earning his first senior cap in September 2025. His performances for Forest last season solidified his place in the England setup, and now, with a record-breaking move to City on the horizon, he stands at the threshold of a new chapter—one that could redefine his career and the landscape of English football in the process.
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