Manchester City has completed the signing of England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported £116 million. The 23-year-old midfielder has signed a five-year contract, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2031.
Anderson's transfer makes him the second most expensive British player in history. His move was initially expected to surpass the £115 million Real Madrid paid for Jude Bellingham in June 2023. However, Chelsea's subsequent £117 million acquisition of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa pushed Anderson into the second spot on the all-time British transfer list.
The transfer fee of £116 million is the full amount, with no additional add-ons included in the deal. Newcastle United, who sold Anderson to Forest for £35 million in 2024 for Financial Fair Play reasons, do not have a sell-on clause, meaning Nottingham Forest stands to profit £81 million on the midfielder.
Anderson, who won a bronze medal with England at the recent World Cup, previously helped England secure the Under-21 European Championship last June. He has earned 16 caps for the senior national team and featured in all of England's matches during the World Cup. Last season, Anderson made 50 appearances across all competitions for Nottingham Forest, contributing to their Premier League safety and their run to the Europa League semifinals.
During the last Premier League season, Anderson led the league in several statistical categories, including most touches (3,300), most duels won (297), and most possession won (306).
Upon his arrival at Manchester City, Anderson expressed his ambition and affinity for the club's status. "City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing - so strong in every position," he stated. "As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen. From the outside looking in, City are a club that treats its players well and provides the perfect environment to excel."
Anderson also commented on the team's winning mentality. "I think they're winners, they're relentless, and that's the sort of team I want to be a part of - champions and people who win trophies," he said. "Over the last 10, 12 years, they've dominated, so that's why I wanted to join."
He noted that manager Enzo Maresca's intense style of play suits his own game and indicated a desire for continuous improvement. "I always believed that I could get to this point and this is where I want to be. Now that I'm here, I'll keep pushing and try to take this Club forward. I'm only twenty-three, so I've got plenty of time to get to my best levels, and I'm not there yet - there's more to come from me."
Mana chester City's director of football, Hugo Viana, described Anderson as "one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football right now." Viana added, "He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing. His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be."
Anderson is scheduled for a three-week break before joining up with the City squad for pre-season training later this summer.